UNU-MERIT Working Papers Series

Melkert Jobs, a unique experiment

Kees Mosselman & Joan Muysken #2024-029

Contrary to the still prevailing belief in the Netherlands that the Melkert job project was a failure, we argue based on a political-economic analysis that the Melkert job should be considered an innovative and successful project. It fully acknowledged that a large group of long-term unemployed should not be left in the lurch by creating basic jobs for this group, leading to improved public services. The Melkert job as a basic job thus represents a concrete implementation of the job guarantee, which currently is increasingly gaining interest in Europe.

JEL Classification: E65, J68, H53, N34

Keywords: Melkert Jobs, public employment, job guarantee, basic income

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