Stigma model of welfare fraud and non-take-up: Theory and evidence from OECD panel data

Kurita, Kenichi and Hori, Nobuaki and Katafuchi, Yuya (2020): Stigma model of welfare fraud and non-take-up: Theory and evidence from OECD panel data. Published in: International Journal of Economic Theory (4 November 2020): pp. 1-29.

Abstract

This paper attempts to challenge two puzzles in the welfare program. The first puzzle is `non-take-up welfare,' which occurs when needy people do not take up welfare. Second, in some countries, the benefit level is high, but the recipient ratio is low; while the other nations have lower benefit levels but higher recipient ratios. We present a model of welfare stigma in which both non-take-up and welfare fraud exist within the equilibrium. This shows the possibility for the recipient ratio to decrease as the benefit level increases in the comparative statics. Our empirical results are consistent with our theoretical results.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Stigma, Welfare fraud, Non-take-up, Welfare program, OECD panel data
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H3 - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents > H31 - Household; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H53 - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty > I38 - Government Policy ; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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