Trans-Atlantic Public Economics Seminar Economic Effects of Social Insurance and the Social Safety Net

Most European and North American countries have complex systems of social policies that include multiple social insurance and transfer programs. Many of these systems are under financial pressure as a result of ageing societies, resulting in active reform discussions. To assess potential policy reforms, knowledge about the behavioral effects of the social safety net is key. Because multiple programs can interact in determining the incentives facing households and firms, the behavioral impact of particular programs can depend on the full constellation of programs in place. This impact can also depend on current and potential beneficiaries’ knowledge of various program provisions, and on the level of compliance with these provisions.

To provide new insights on the effects of social insurance and transfer systems on economic behavior, the ifo Institute for Economic Research (ifo), the Center for Economic Studies (CES) at the University of Munich (LMU) and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) will organize a Trans-Atlantic Public Economics Seminar (TAPES) on June 8–10, 2026 in Munich, Germany. The program will be arranged by Hilary Hoynes (University of California, Berkeley and NBER) and Andreas Peichl (ifo, LMU and CESifo). The conference will include 10 papers as well as keynote addresses by Johannes Spinnewijn (London School of Economics) and Stefanie Stantcheva (Harvard University and NBER).  

The organizers welcome submissions on any topic related to social insurance and transfer programs, including but not limited to:

• The incentives created by social insurance programs, including those operating through tax systems, and the resulting behavioral responses of individuals and firms. 
• The incidence of payroll taxes and other dedicated revenue streams that finance safety net programs. 
• The importance of interactions between various social insurance programs in determining behavioral responses.
• The administrative burdens on governments of providing social insurance programs, and on households and firms of applying for and complying with the provisions of such programs.  
• The role of informal work in affecting program eligibility as well as the impact of audits of eligibility of current beneficiaries.  
• The measurement of and consequences of complexity within the transfer system and knowledge about the system.
• The determinants of take-up of transfer programs and tax benefits that provide social insurance.   
• The sustainability of pay-as-you-go pension systems and of publicly provided health care and health insurance programs in ageing societies.

Priority will be given to empirically oriented research, but applied theoretical contributions are also welcome. Submissions from scholars who are early in their careers, from researchers who are not CESifo, ifo/LMU or NBER affiliates, and who have not participated in past TAPES conferences are welcome. In keeping with the NBER’s long-standing requirement, papers should refrain from offering policy recommendations or making normative statements about policy.

Papers will be selected on the basis of abstracts of about 750 words or, when possible, completed manuscripts. Upload abstracts and/or papers by 11:59pm EST on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

In the case of co-authored papers, please identify the author who plans to attend the meeting as the presenter. Authors chosen to present papers will be notified in early January 2026.  

The conference sponsors will cover the cost of economy-class travel as well as local travel expenses and lodging for one author per paper. Other co-authors are also welcome to attend at their own expense. Questions about this meeting may be addressed to confer@nber.org.