Economic Journal of Emerging Markets
Volume 16 Issue 1, 2024

Impacts of unemployment benefit program on job search duration: Evidence from Indonesia

Turro Selrits Wongkaren (Lembaga Demografi Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Tarimantan Sanberto Saragih (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), Indonesia)
Flora Aninditya (Lembaga Demografi Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Chairina Hanum Siregar (Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM) Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Aditya Harin Nugroho (Lembaga Demografi Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Rihlah Ramdoniah (Lembaga Demografi Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Eldest Augustin (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), Indonesia)
Kania Fitriani (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), Indonesia)
Fergie Stevi Mahaganti (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), Indonesia)
Maurizky Febriansyah (Lembaga Demografi Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
08 Apr 2024

Abstract

Purpose ― This study examines the impacts of the Unemployment Benefit Program (Jaminan Kehilangan Pekerjaan, JKP) on the duration of job search in Indonesia using internal data sourced from the Employment Social Security Administering Agency (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja, BPJS TK).Method ― The Regression Kinked Design (RKD) model and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) estimation method are used to analyze the data on laid-off workers who have received the JKP benefits.Findings ― On average, the JKP beneficiaries have a longer duration of job search than laid-off workers who do not receive benefits. An increase in the replacement rate of the JKP benefits is associated with an increased duration of both job search and benefit claims. The RKD plot indicates that a replacement rate lower than 45% may decrease the duration of benefit claims and job searches. Implication ― The results imply that the government should consider two potential options: (1) maintaining the current level of monetary benefits that leads to a longer job search duration; in other words, the program management must continue providing benefits for the maximum duration offered (up to 6 months), or, (2) reducing the monetary benefits, if BPJS TK aims to reduce the job duration. The results may change if a more robust labor market information system is available.Originality ― This study represents the first attempt to investigate the impact of the Unemployment Benefit Program (JKP) on job search duration in Indonesia. It might also be important to enrich the existing literature on the impact of similar programs in developing countries and countries with large populations.

Copyrights © 2024






Journal Info

Abbrev

JEP

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

The Economic Journal of Emerging Markets (EJEM) is a peer-reviewed journal which provides a forum for scientific works pertaining to emerging market economies. Published every April and October, this journal welcomes original research papers on all aspects of economic development issues. The journal ...