The limits of burden-reducing policies: a case study of unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 crisis in Israel

Abstract

This study examines policy efforts to reduce administrative burden and to increase accessibility to unemployment insurance (UI) during the COVID-19 crisis in Israel and the consequences of these for claimants. A mixed-method approach was applied, utilising administrative documents, interviews and survey data. The findings suggest a mixed trend: burden-reducing measures were introduced but were constrained by the system’s preexisting infrastructure. While some claimants experienced the process as simple, many others experienced it as onerous, primarily due to a lack of communication with authorities. Two key insights for successful implementation of burden-reduction policies are highlighted: a well-established infrastructure and bidirectional communication.