Tightening the Purse Strings: The Effect of Stricter DI Eligibility Criteria on Labor Supply

43 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2009

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 28, 2009

Abstract

This paper explores the labor supply effects of a large-scale policy change in the Austrian disability insurance program, which tightened eligibility criteria for men above a certain age. Using administrative data on the universe of Austrian private-sector employees, the results of difference-in-difference type regressions suggest a substantial and statistically significant decline in disability enrollment of 5-5.7 percentage points and a modest increase in employment of 1.4 to 2.7 percentage points. On the other hand, the policy change had important spillover effects into the unemployment and sickness insurance program. Specifically, the share of individuals receiving unemployment benefits increased roughly by 3 percentage points and the share receiving sickness insurance benefits by 0.6 percentage points.

Keywords: Disability Insurance, Eligibility Criteria, Labor Supply, Policy Reform

JEL Classification: H53, H55, J21, J64, J68

Suggested Citation

Staubli, Stefan, Tightening the Purse Strings: The Effect of Stricter DI Eligibility Criteria on Labor Supply (November 28, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1519844 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1519844

Stefan Staubli (Contact Author)

University of Calgary ( email )

University Drive
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
Canada

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