Country comparative analyses have pointed towards welfare state expenditures as an explaining factor for wealth inequality. The theoretical foundations of these claims are tested within the...Show moreCountry comparative analyses have pointed towards welfare state expenditures as an explaining factor for wealth inequality. The theoretical foundations of these claims are tested within the Netherlands by exploiting two reforms through which the generosity of its unemployment insurance design was decreased. The maximum eligibility duration for UI benefits was reduced once in 2006 and once in 2014 in particular ways that allow for a difference-in-differences approach to analyse the effects. No increase in the precautionary behaviour of households, either measured through their buffer stock wealth or saving rate, was found. The least wealthy households did report an increase in their stated importance of the precautionary saving motive, implying that they wanted to save more, but could not. This might be due to liquidity constraints or behavioural tendencies.Show less
Highly skilled migration is a hotly debated topic that involves controversy about its determinants. The academic literature till date have focused on economic migrants, neglecting the migration of...Show moreHighly skilled migration is a hotly debated topic that involves controversy about its determinants. The academic literature till date have focused on economic migrants, neglecting the migration of highly skilled students. This research investigates the flow of skilled student and economic migrants into the European Economic Area. It aims to uncover the likely effect subsidized tertiary education has on attracting or deterring student and economic migration. Using Panel Data of Eurostat and OECD as well as employing variety of econometric techniques, such as OLS, fixed effects, interaction effect and instrumental variable, the research aims to test its main hypothesis: higher public spending on tertiary education is likely to attract highly skilled migrants. Interaction effect seems to support this proposition.Show less
