Research by Author & Topic

Publications by Wayne Vroman on Poverty and Safety Net

This short paper summarizes the current situation of state unemployment insurance (UI) programs in the United States. It describes benefit recipiency, UI trust fund balances and administrative financing. Policies are recommended to increase solvency of the trust funds, raise recipiency rates and to improve the adequacy of administrative funding.

This report examines benefit payments in Ohio’s unemployment insurance (UI) program. The report compares average recipiency rates and replacement rates with national averages over the past four decades. It then reviews detailed aspects of benefit recipiency including monetary eligibility, first payment rates, benefit duration and replacement rates. The report identifies four areas where access to benefits could be broadened: reduced base period earnings requirements, enhanced eligibility for part-time workers, establishment of worksharing and establishment of self-employment assistance.

This paper describes the evolution of unemployment in recent years (the rate of unemployment occurrences and average unemployment duration) and highlights variation in unemployment by gender, age, ethnicity and educational attainment using national data. It then demonstrates the wide variation in receipt of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by states. It also identifies several state-level factors related to recipiency rate variation. Finally, it suggests changes that would increase UI recipiency in the states.

This paper examines the unemployment insurance (UI) program in Chile. Section A reviews past patterns of inflation and unemployment, giving a flavor of the risks faced by labor market participants in Chile. Section B describes the UI program as it has evolved during the past 50 years and presents data on benefit payments from 1966 to 2001. Comparative data from the UI systems for other South American countries and selected OECD member countries are also presented and compared with Chile. Other programs for the unemployed are also described and discussed. Section C describes the new UI program in Chile that began to be implemented in October 2002 and assesses its strengths and weaknesses.

This short paper describes the current economic situation and argues for a further extension of federally financed unemployment insurance (UI) protection to the long-term unemployed. It also summarizes important developments in the labor market during recent decades that are relevant to the current debate over extending UI benefits.

This report examines the current economic situation in Montana and the adequacy of its State Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund. The trust fund is currently in good financial condition due both to a favorable unemployment situation and to prudent policies affecting the trust fund balance. This situation allows Montana to consider policy options not available to many other states. It could contemplate a one-time drawdown of reserves of some $10-$15 million without causing a measurable increase on the threat of insolvency.

This report was written in response to a legislative directive specified by the Virginia General Assembly in House Joint Resolution (HJR) 611 to undertake a comprehensive review of the state's unemployment compensation system. Enacted during Virginia's 2001 legislative session, HJR 611 identified eight topics to be studied covering aspects of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit payments, financing and trust fund solvency. The analysis was to be undertaken in close consultation with the Virginia Employment Commission. This final report, a revision of an earlier draft report, responds to the HJR 611 legislative directive.

The Congress is likely to enact an economic stimulus package in 2002 that includes significant increases in Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. Details of bills passed by the House and the Senate during 2001 differ widely. Great uncertainty surrounds the provisions of the bill that may be enacted sometime in the current year. This issue brief provides background information on the UI program, discusses key aspects of benefit recipiency, and describes the legislative developments to date. It provides a general discussion of UI before examining the federal legislation of 2001. The starting point is the current labor market and evidence of a recession.

With the economy in recession, President Bush is asking (has asked) Congress to reconsider the stimulus package tabled when members adjourned for the Christmas holidays. Senator Daschle has countered with a retooled democratic stimulus plan. Both contain proposals to strengthen the unemployment insurance (UI) system. As the debate intensifies it will be critical to understand the key issues - how the system works now, where it needs fixing, which workers are most affected, and how the system contributes to stimulating the economy. Below are answers to some of the questions at the heart of understanding the program and the potential impact of reforms under consideration.

This paper examines Australia's scheme of unemployment protection and makes some comparisons with unemployment protection in the United States of America. A major concern of the paper is to understand the differences in unemployment duration between these two economies. Policies followed in the United States intended to reduce duration are reviewed for possible applicability in Australia.