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A Reduction in Sick leave Pay Keeps the Doctor Away?

Moreland, Daniel Alexander LU (2018) EKHM52 20182
Department of Economic History
Abstract
Compensation for sickness absence reached a peak in Sweden by the late 1980s. A generous
sickness benefit system was met by high levels of absence. By the early 1990s, the Swedish economy was in
deep crisis. In response, the Swedish government restricted sickness benefits and privatized short-term sick
leave payouts. This thesis asks whether sick leave reforms reduced Swedish sickness absence and what impact
the reforms had compared to other expected drivers of absence. The study uses data from the Household
Market and Non-Market Activities (HUS) panel between 1993 and 1998. This was a nationwide panel survey
which included information how many weeks of sick leave respondents had taken in the previous year. Using
a fixed effects... (More)
Compensation for sickness absence reached a peak in Sweden by the late 1980s. A generous
sickness benefit system was met by high levels of absence. By the early 1990s, the Swedish economy was in
deep crisis. In response, the Swedish government restricted sickness benefits and privatized short-term sick
leave payouts. This thesis asks whether sick leave reforms reduced Swedish sickness absence and what impact
the reforms had compared to other expected drivers of absence. The study uses data from the Household
Market and Non-Market Activities (HUS) panel between 1993 and 1998. This was a nationwide panel survey
which included information how many weeks of sick leave respondents had taken in the previous year. Using
a fixed effects negative binomial regression, this study finds no link between the reforms and a decrease in
absence. It does find that individuals who worked more had shorter absences and regional unemployment
played a role in reducing male absence, while individual and workplace characteristics often had different
effects on men and women. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Moreland, Daniel Alexander LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
The impact Sick Leave reforms in Sweden 1993-1998
course
EKHM52 20182
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
8958950
date added to LUP
2018-10-19 12:06:47
date last changed
2018-10-19 12:06:47
@misc{8958950,
  abstract     = {{Compensation for sickness absence reached a peak in Sweden by the late 1980s. A generous
sickness benefit system was met by high levels of absence. By the early 1990s, the Swedish economy was in
deep crisis. In response, the Swedish government restricted sickness benefits and privatized short-term sick
leave payouts. This thesis asks whether sick leave reforms reduced Swedish sickness absence and what impact
the reforms had compared to other expected drivers of absence. The study uses data from the Household
Market and Non-Market Activities (HUS) panel between 1993 and 1998. This was a nationwide panel survey
which included information how many weeks of sick leave respondents had taken in the previous year. Using
a fixed effects negative binomial regression, this study finds no link between the reforms and a decrease in
absence. It does find that individuals who worked more had shorter absences and regional unemployment
played a role in reducing male absence, while individual and workplace characteristics often had different
effects on men and women.}},
  author       = {{Moreland, Daniel Alexander}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Reduction in Sick leave Pay Keeps the Doctor Away?}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}