IZA/IAB Linked Evaluation Dataset

The IZA/IAB Linked Evaluation Dataset 1993-2010 was created in the context of the research project trying to obtain reliable estimates for the impact of active labor market policies (ALMP) and understand why and how programs work or not.In cooperation with the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg (IAB), an extensive data base for analysing the effectiveness of active labour market policy measures was compiled. From the Integrated Employment Biographies (IEB) of the IAB, which comprise administrative individual-level data about benefits received, job search and participation in measures from the operational business of the Federal Employment Agency, a random sample of persons who entered unemployment between January 2001 and December 2008 was taken. For selected persons with entries in unemployment between June 2007 and May 2008, an additional telephone interview was carried out on behalf of IZA. In total, about 17,400 people were interviewed. These persons were asked for their consent to link the survey data with the information available at the IAB: 15,274 persons gave their consent and finally the data of 15,173 individuals could be matched. Hence the administrative data have been reshaped so that information on the period before unemployment is provided on a yearly basis and information on the period after entering unemployment on a monthly basis. The variables concerning the participation in active labour market programmes are reduced as well. Furthermore some variables of the survey data have to be deleted or values have to be pooled into new categories. The IZA/IAB Linked Evaluation Dataset in the factual anonymous version is available as SUF at the FDZ and the IDSC. In order to be able to use the data, it is first necessary to submit an application to the FDZ and the IDSC. The application will be reviewed in the FDZ and the IDSC. When approval has been granted, a data use agreement is concluded with the researcher’s institution. Details on applying for the dataset and possibilities for data processing can be found on the websites of the FDZ and the IDSC.