Effectiveness analysis of the corona measures

The first part of this report provides a comparative expert assessment, with respect to six target dimensions, of eleven key COVID-19 measures in Germany. It is based on responses by 60 experienced academic scholars with focus on labor market research, to a specific survey conducted at the beginning of 2021. The results indicate that short-time work clearly ranks first in the evaluation of the economic cost-benefit ratio. The instrument also ranks among the top three measures in each of the other target dimensions, while the temporary reduction in valueadded tax is rated as having the worst cost-benefit ratio. The second part of this report puts the crisis-related extensions of short-time work in Germany in international context, in order to gain insights how the instrument could be developed to obtain an even more effective and efficient functionality in the future. Important parameters considered in this context are benefit levels and benefit duration, integration of training activities, financing mechanisms, and employer cost sharing.