List of tables ix List of figures xi List of appendices xiii List of abbreviations xv 1 Introduction 1 (8) 1.1 Motivation 1 (2) 1.2 Background on German active labour market policy 3 (2) 1.3 Data and identification strategies 5 (1) 1.4 Contribution of the thesis 6 (3) 2 Temporary work as an active labour market policy: Evaluating an innovative activation programme for disadvantaged youths 9 (16) 2.1 Introduction 10 (2) 2.2 The programme, identification and data 12 (3) 2.3 Results 15 (7) 2.4 Conclusion 22 (3) 3 Do dedicated preparation measures improve the effectiveness of consecutive active labour market policy measures in Germany? 25 (34) 3.1 Introduction 26 (1) 3.2 Existing empirical evidence 27 (2) 3.3 Data and descriptive statistics 29 (5) 3.4 Empirical strategy 34 (5) 3.5 Results 39 (8) 3.6 Conclusion 47 (12) Appendix 49 (10) 4 Did customers benefit from the reorganisation of customer management in German employment agencies? 59 (36) 4.1 Introduction 60 (1) 4.2 Customer management 61 (3) 4.3 Review of the first CSC and AP evaluation 64 (1) 4.4 Methodology and data 65 (7) 4.5 Results 72 (9) 4.6 Conclusion 81 (14) Appendix 83 (12) 5 New software, more employment? 95 (22) 5.1 Introduction 96 (1) 5.2 Public employment agencies and job placements 97 (2) 5.3 Methodology and data 99 (7) 5.4 Results 106 (6) 5.5 Conclusion 112 (5) Appendix 113 (4) 6 Conclusion and policy implications 117 (2) References