Skip to content

Institute of Public Policies

Home » Projects » Tax system » Evaluation of the unemployment insurance reform

Evaluation of the unemployment insurance reform

Project Status Completed

Context

Unemployment insurance has been reformed several times in recent years and is a major topic of public debate. The latest reform, which was phased in between 2019 and 2021, has, amongst other things, changed the definition of the reference daily wage (SJR) on which the calculation of unemployment benefits is based. On the one hand, the reference period for its calculation has been extended (from the last 12 to the last 24 months). Furthermore, the SRJ is now calculated as the wages received during this period divided by the number of calendar days, whereas previously it was divided solely by the number of days worked. The stated aim of this reform is to strengthen incentives for continuous employment pathways, rather than alternating between short-term contracts and periods of unemployment benefit.

Presentation

This project aims to assess the impact of this reform of the SJR, particularly on employment trajectories. The first step is to characterise the groups affected by this reform, by estimating, for a sample of individuals exposed to the reform, the change in unemployment benefits resulting from it. The second stage will involve assessing the causal impact of this reform on employment trajectories, by comparing groups whose employment contracts ended just before the reform came into force with those whose contracts ended just afterwards. The analysis will examine the reform’s effects on the duration of employment and unemployment, the characteristics of the jobs held (type of employment contract, salary, etc.), and the use of social security benefits.

Research Team

This project is led by the pole Tax system.
Brice Fabre
Brice Fabre
François Fontaine
François Fontaine
Nolwenn Loisel
Nolwenn Loisel
Pierre Rousseaux
Pierre Rousseaux
Maxime Tô
Maxime Tô

Method and Data

All of this work will be carried out using comprehensive administrative data, in particular the MiDAS database produced by DARES, which brings together administrative data from Pôle Emploi, data relating to nominative social declarations (DSN), and data from the National Family Allowances Fund (Cnaf).

Partners

Direction de l’Animation de la Recherche des Études et des Statistiques du Travail (Dares)

This project is being carried out as part of the DARES call for research proposals entitled “Quantitative monitoring of the effects of the unemployment insurance reform on jobseekers”.

Last modified: July 20, 2026