Can Paid Periods Pay Off? - An Economic Analysis of the Introduction of a Menstrual Leave Policy in Sweden
(2024) NEKN01 20241Department of Economics
- Abstract
- This thesis studies the potential economic effects of a menstrual leave pol- icy introduction in Sweden. With a basis in agency theory and previous research on insurance behavior, the Swedish sickness insurance system is an- alyzed alongside collected data from a survey conducted for the study. The Swedish sickness insurance system is found to not sufficiently support individ- uals in frequent need of sick leave due to severe menstrual pain. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a demand for a menstrual leave policy among menstruating individuals. The results suggest that a menstrual leave policy could contribute to economic growth, however, it could also lead to inadvertent consequences such as moral hazard and stigmatization of... (More)
- This thesis studies the potential economic effects of a menstrual leave pol- icy introduction in Sweden. With a basis in agency theory and previous research on insurance behavior, the Swedish sickness insurance system is an- alyzed alongside collected data from a survey conducted for the study. The Swedish sickness insurance system is found to not sufficiently support individ- uals in frequent need of sick leave due to severe menstrual pain. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a demand for a menstrual leave policy among menstruating individuals. The results suggest that a menstrual leave policy could contribute to economic growth, however, it could also lead to inadvertent consequences such as moral hazard and stigmatization of menstruating indi- viduals in the labor market. Thus, the advantages of a menstrual leave policy must be evaluated against the disadvantages. Suggestions for further research include empirical studies through knowledge from countries where the policy was already implemented and exploration of a trial study in Sweden. Due to the scope of the study and the sample of the survey not being representative of the population, an adequate assessment of a policy implementation cannot be made. The study does, however, contribute to the ongoing debate on gen- der equality in the labor market and gives insight into how policymakers can balance economic efficiency with social welfare. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9173314
- author
- Thurfjell, Elin LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- NEKN01 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Menstrual leave, sickness insurance, moral hazard, asymmetric information, menstrual stigma
- language
- English
- id
- 9173314
- date added to LUP
- 2024-10-01 13:09:47
- date last changed
- 2024-10-01 13:09:47
@misc{9173314,
abstract = {{This thesis studies the potential economic effects of a menstrual leave pol- icy introduction in Sweden. With a basis in agency theory and previous research on insurance behavior, the Swedish sickness insurance system is an- alyzed alongside collected data from a survey conducted for the study. The Swedish sickness insurance system is found to not sufficiently support individ- uals in frequent need of sick leave due to severe menstrual pain. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a demand for a menstrual leave policy among menstruating individuals. The results suggest that a menstrual leave policy could contribute to economic growth, however, it could also lead to inadvertent consequences such as moral hazard and stigmatization of menstruating indi- viduals in the labor market. Thus, the advantages of a menstrual leave policy must be evaluated against the disadvantages. Suggestions for further research include empirical studies through knowledge from countries where the policy was already implemented and exploration of a trial study in Sweden. Due to the scope of the study and the sample of the survey not being representative of the population, an adequate assessment of a policy implementation cannot be made. The study does, however, contribute to the ongoing debate on gen- der equality in the labor market and gives insight into how policymakers can balance economic efficiency with social welfare.}},
author = {{Thurfjell, Elin}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Can Paid Periods Pay Off? - An Economic Analysis of the Introduction of a Menstrual Leave Policy in Sweden}},
year = {{2024}},
}