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Early retirement for early starters - A well targeted policy for people with high job demand?

(joint work with Lars Felder, Johannes Geyer, and Peter Haan) Despite growing demographic pressure, a reform in Germany has lowered the full retirement age (FRA) temporarily for early starters. In this paper we analyze whether the reform was well targeted. Specifically, we study if the early retirement scheme benefits workers with high job strain or if workers with better jobs and the potential...

From friends to ‘family’: schools, neighborhoods, and gang recruitment

This paper examines how gang-related criminal behavior spreads through extended family and peer networks, using newly linked Swedish administrative data covering over 18,000 individuals with confirmed gang affiliation. Within-family correlations reveal intergenerational transmission of criminal behavior where parental criminal history accounts for only half of a broader latent "crime-family"...

The scar of political conflict: evidence from tear gas deployments in Hong Kong

This study examines how exposure to political violence reshapes market behavior by leveraging Hong Kong’s 2019-2020 protests. Exploiting local variation in tear gas deployment–the primary crowd-control weapon marking sites of violent confrontations–we use a difference-in-differences approach comparing housing prices in buildings within 50 meters of tear gas sites to those 50-1,000 meters away,...

The labour market effects of crime victimisation

Using a novel dataset encompassing all crime reports in Brazil and employing a matched differences-in-differences design, we find that victims of assault experience a 7-10% reduction in labor market participation, with persistent and permanent effects evident even five years after the incident. Victims are less likely to search for jobs and significantly more likely to be absent from work. Overall...

Does Distance from Home Matter in Prison? Effects on Visitation and Recidivism

This paper studies how the distance between prison and an incarcerated individual’s home affects their likelihood of recidivism. Leveraging a unique dataset covering more than 20,000 incarcerated individuals and over 200,000 prison visits, I exploit quasi-random variation in home-to-prison distance generated by facility assignment rules. I find that a 100-mile increase in placement distance raises...

Does Management Matter? Evidence from Indigent Defense in Texas

The majority of felony cases in the United States involve indigent clients represented by publicly financed attorneys. In this paper, we examine the effects of efforts to improve representation for economically disadvantaged defendants through the adoption of managed indigent defense offices (MIDs) in the state of Texas. MIDs impose a layer of oversight and accountability on attorneys providing...

Understanding Criminal Record Penalties in the Labor Market

This paper studies the earnings and employment penalties associated with a criminal record. Using a large-scale dataset linking criminal justice and employer-employee wage records, we estimate two-way fixed effects models that decompose earnings into worker’s portable earnings potential and firm pay premia, both of which are allowed to shift after a worker acquires a record. We find that firm pay...

Application at DIW Berlin: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I apply? Please submit your application via our online portal. No registration, applicant profile, or password is required. You only need to fill in the application forms and upload your documents. Can I also apply to DIW Berlin by email? Please apply via our online portal. If you experience any issues, please contact us by email at recruiting@diw.de . In which language ...

Growing Up with Disasters: Early Memories and the Origins of Patience

This paper examines the long-term impact of childhood exposure to aggregate shocks on intertemporal decision-making. Drawing on survey data from 80,000 individuals in 76 countries and exploiting within-country, cross-cohort variation in exposure to natural and man-made disasters, I show that such shocks during childhood significantly reduce patience in adulthood. The effects are concentrated...

The chances of homeownership have decreased