The Employment Effects of Countercyclical Infrastructure Investments

Buchheim, Lukas und Watzinger, Martin (2017): The Employment Effects of Countercyclical Infrastructure Investments. Collaborative Research Center Transregio 190, Discussion Paper No. 20

Abstract

We estimate the causal impact of a sizable German infrastructure investment program on employment at the county level. The program focused on improving the energy efficiency of school buildings, making it possible to use the number of schools as an instrument for investments. We find that the program was effective, creating one job for one year for each €25'000 of investments. The employment gains reached their peak after nine months and dropped to zero quickly after the program's completion. The reductions in unemployment amounted to two-thirds of the job creation, and employment grew predominately in the construction and non-tradable industries.

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Keywords: infrastructure investments; job creation; employment dynamics; countercyclical fiscal policy
• Fakultät: Volkswirtschaft > Collaborative Research Center Transregio "Rationality and Competition"
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• JEL Classification: E24, E62, H72
• Sprache: Englisch