Working Paper: NBER ID: w27267
Authors: Alexander Ahammer; Analisa Packham
Abstract: Using administrative data for Upper Austrian workers from 2003--2013, we show that an extension in unemployment insurance (UI) duration increases unemployment length and impacts worker physical and mental health. These effects vary by gender. Specifically, we find that women eligible for an additional 9 weeks of UI benefits fill fewer opioid and antidepressant prescriptions and experience a lower likelihood of filing a disability claim, as compared to non-eligible unemployed women. Moreover, estimates indicate within-household spillovers for young children. For men, we find that extending UI benefit duration increases the likelihood of a cardiac event and eventual disability retirement filing.
Keywords: unemployment insurance; health; gender differences; administrative data; Austria
JEL Codes: I18; I38; J18; J65
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) duration (J65) | Unemployment Duration (J64) |
| Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) duration (J65) | Prescription Drug Use (I11) |
| Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) duration (J65) | Cardiac Events (G14) |
| Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) duration (J65) | Disability Claims (G52) |
| Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) duration (J65) | Child Health (I19) |