Data and Code for: Unemployment Insurance as a Worker Indiscipline Device? Evidence from Scanner Data

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Lester Lusher, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Geoffrey C. Schnorr, University of California, Davis; Rebecca L.C. Taylor, University of Sydney

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
  LusherSchorrTaylor_ReplicationCode 02/28/2021 05:53:PM
ReadMe.pdf application/pdf 271.2 KB 03/09/2021 01:23:PM

Project Citation: 

Lusher, Lester, Schnorr, Geoffrey C., and Taylor, Rebecca L.C. Data and Code for: Unemployment Insurance as a Worker Indiscipline Device? Evidence from Scanner Data. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2022. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2022-03-21. https://doi.org/10.3886/E122381V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary Abstract: We provide causal evidence of an ex ante moral hazard effect of Unemployment Insurance (UI) by matching plausibly exogenous changes in UI benefit duration across state-weeks during the Great Recession to high-frequency productivity measures from individual supermarket cashiers. Estimating models with day and cashier-register fixed effects, we identify a modest but statistically significant negative relationship between UI benefits and worker productivity. This effect is strongest for more experienced and less productive cashiers, for whom UI expansions are especially relevant. Additional analyses from the American Time Use Survey reveal a similar increase in shirking during periods with increased UI benefit durations.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms unemployment insurance; scanner data; shirking
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      I38 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
      J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
      J38 Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs: Public Policy
      J65 Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
      L81 Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage District of Columbia metropolitan area
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1/1/2008 – 2/28/2011
Collection Date(s):  View help for Collection Date(s) 7/12/2017 – 3/25/2020
Universe:  View help for Universe Cashiers at a large supermarket chain
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) administrative records data

Methodology

Data Source:  View help for Data Source
  • Taylor, Rebecca L. C. 2020. “A Mixed Bag: The Hidden Time Costs of Regulating Consumer Behavior.” Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 7(2): 345–378.
  • Mas, Alexandre, and Enrico Moretti. 2009. “Peers at Work.” American Economic Review, 99(1): 112–145.
  • Kilts Center for Marketing. 2009-2014. “The Nielsen Datasets.” University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2003-2014b. “Local Area Unemployment Statistics.” U.S. Department of Labor.
  • Employment & Training Administration. 2003-2014a. “Benefit Accuracy Measurement.” U.S. Department of Labor.
  • State of California's Employment Development Department 
  • Zip code to county FIPS code crosswalk - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Rothstein, Jesse. 2011. “Unemployment Insurance and Job Search in the Great Recession.” National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper No. w17534.
  • Hsu, Joanne W, David A Matsa, and Brian T Melzer. 2018. “Unemployment Insurance as a Housing Market Stabilizer.” American Economic Review, 108(1): 49–81.
  • Food and Nutrition Service. 2008-2011. “SNAP Data Tables, report FNS-388.” U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2003-2014a. “American Time Use Survey.” U.S. Department of Labor.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2017a. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” U.S. Department of Labor.
  • Employment & Training Administration. 2003-2014b. “Data Downloads, Report 207.” U.S. Department of Labor.
  • Google Trends
Unit(s) of Observation:  View help for Unit(s) of Observation checkout transaction

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V1 [2022-03-21]

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