Upjohn Author ORCID Identifier
Publication Date
3-2014
Source
National Tax Journal, 67(1): 253-268
Abstract
Following the Great Recession, most states’ unemployment insurance (UI) trust funds became insolvent, requiring the states to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to finance benefit payments. This article describes the basics of UI financing and reviews the origins of the financial crisis facing the federal-state UI system. It then examines the main components of the UI payroll tax—the taxable wage base and the experience-rated payroll tax—and considers how these might be modified to avoid future widespread insolvency. We conclude with some speculative remarks on the future of UI financing.
Publisher
National Tax Association
Access Rights
Permission granted to post article on February 11, 2014
Subject Areas
UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY, and INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAMS; Unemployment insurance; Benefit financing
Citation
Vroman, Wayne, and Stephen A. Woodbury. 2014. "Financing Unemployment Insurance." National Tax Journal, 67(1): 253-268.