While the discussion in this section mainly focuses on adjustments to benefit duration, the notion of better linking UB programmes to the business cycle could also apply to other features of UB programmes such as minimum eligibility requirements, benefit levels (Kroft et al., Eligible unemployed individuals must have contributed to the programme at least 30% of the annual maximum El premiums for at least seven of the ten previous years and have received no more than 35 weeks of regular benefits in the five years prior to the start of their claim. This does raise the difficult practical question of how to determine optimal economic and labour market areas (McNiven et al., During recessionary periods, the ability of relatively stronger labour market areas to absorb additional inactive or unemployed individuals from weaker areas is limited (Mishel et al.,