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A Theory of Employment, Unemployment and Sickness

Author

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  • Christina Beatty
  • Stephen Fothergill
  • Rob Macmillan

Abstract

BEATTY C., FOTHERGILL S. and MACMILLAN R. (2000) A theory of employment, unemployment and sickness, Reg. Studies 34, 617-630. This paper explains how the measurement of unemployment is distorted by the way that 'sickness' is defined and counted by social security systems. Drawing on the concepts of 'hidden sickness', 'the queue for jobs' and 'hidden unemployment', and on empirical observations from the UK, it shows how job loss can result in increased recorded sickness rather than recorded unemployment. It also shows how this process may vary between localities and countries. The argument has profound implications for perceptions of the true extent of unemployment and of labour market disparities between regions. BEATTY C., FOTHERGILL S. et MACMILLAN R. (2000) L'emploi, le chômage et la maladie: une th�orie, Reg. Studies 34, 617-630. Cet article cherch�aexpliquer comment la mesure du chômage s'av�re fauss��acause de la fac¸on dont la S�cu d�finit 'maladie' et la comptabilise. Puisant dans des notions de 'maladie d�guis�e', 'file d'attente pour l'emploi' et 'chômage d�guis�', et � partir des preuves empiriques provenant du R-U, on laisse voir comment la perte d'emploi peut entrâ L ner une hausse du nombre des maladies comptabilis�es plutôt qu'une augmentation du nombre des chômeurs inscrits. On laisse voir aussi comment ce processus varie suivant la r�gion et le pays. Les retomb�es de cet argument remettent clairement en question le vrai niveau du chômage et l'ampleur des disparit�s interr�gionales entre les march�s du travail. BEATTY C., FOTHERGILL S. und MACMILLAN R. (2000) Eine Theorie der Erwerbst�tigkeit, Arbeitslosigkeit und Krankheit, Reg. Studies 34, 617-630. Dieser Aufsatz erkl�rt, wie die Messung der Arbeitslosigkeit durch die Art und Weise der Definition und Z�hlung von 'Krankheit' durch Sozialversicherungssystemen bestimmt wird. Gest�tzt auf die Begriffe, 'versteckte Krankheit', 'Warteliste der Arbeitsuchenden' und 'versteckte Arbeitslosigkeit' sowie auf empirische Beobachtungen in Großbritannien, zeigt er auf, wie Verlust des Arbeitsplatzes eher zu vermehrter Registrierung von Krankheit als Registrierung von Arbeitslosigkeit f�hren kann. Er zeigt auch, wie dieser Vorgang von Ort zu Ort und von Land zu Land schwanken kann. Das Argument hat tiefgreifende Implikationen f�r die Einsch�tzung des wahren Ausmaßes der Arbeitslosigkeit und regionaler Ungleichheiten im Arbeitsmarkt.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Beatty & Stephen Fothergill & Rob Macmillan, 2000. "A Theory of Employment, Unemployment and Sickness," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(7), pages 617-630, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:34:y:2000:i:7:p:617-630
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400050178429
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    4. Melitz, Jacques & Darby, Julia, 2007. "Labour Market Adjustment, Social Spending and the Automatic Stabilizers in the OECD," CEPR Discussion Papers 6230, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Jennifer Roberts & Karl Taylor, 2022. "New Evidence on Disability Benefit Claims in Britain: The Role of Health and the Local Labour Market," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 89(353), pages 131-160, January.
    6. Melanie Jones, 2004. "The Dynamic Benchmarking of Labour Markets," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(5), pages 493-504.
    7. O'Reilly, Dermot & Rosato, Michael, 2010. "Dissonances in self-reported health and mortality across denominational groups in Northern Ireland," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(5), pages 1011-1017, September.
    8. Christina Beatty & Stephen Fothergill, 2002. "Hidden Unemployment Among Men: A Case Study," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(8), pages 811-823.
    9. David Webster, 2006. "Welfare Reform: Facing up to the Geography of Worklessness," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 21(2), pages 107-116, May.
    10. Roberts, Jennifer & Taylor, Karl, 2019. "New Evidence on Disability Benefit Claims in the UK: The Role of Health and the Local Labour Market," IZA Discussion Papers 12825, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Furceri, Davide, 2010. "Stabilization effects of social spending: Empirical evidence from a panel of OECD countries," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 34-48, March.
    12. O'Leary, Nigel C. & Murphy, Philip D. & Latreille, Paul L. & Blackaby, David H. & Sloane, Peter J., 2005. "Accounting for Differences in Labour Market Outcomes in Great Britain: A Regional Analysis Using the Labour Force Survey," IZA Discussion Papers 1501, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Duncan McVicar, 2008. "Why Have Uk Disability Benefit Rolls Grown So Much?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 114-139, February.
    14. Monastiriotis, Vassilis, 2006. "Macro-determinants of UK regional unemployment and the role of employment flexibility," MPRA Paper 44, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Richard Burkhauser & Mary Daly & Duncan McVicar & Roger Wilkins, 2014. "Disability benefit growth and disability reform in the US: lessons from other OECD nations," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 3(1), pages 1-30, December.
    16. Bernd Belina & Gesa Helms, 2003. "Zero Tolerance for the Industrial Past and Other Threats: Policing and Urban Entrepreneurialism in Britain and Germany," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 40(9), pages 1845-1867, August.
    17. Anyadike-Danes, Michael & McVicar, Duncan, 2005. "You'll never walk alone: Childhood influences and male career path clusters," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 511-530, August.
    18. Paul L. Latreille, 2009. "Disability, Health and the Labour Market: Evidence from the Welsh Health Survey," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 24(3), pages 192-210, May.
    19. Scott Baum & Anthea Bill & William Mitchell, 2008. "Labour Underutilisation in Metropolitan Labour Markets in Australia: Individual Characteristics, Personal Circumstances and Local Labour Markets," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 45(5-6), pages 1193-1216, May.
    20. Curnock, Esther & Leyland, Alastair H. & Popham, Frank, 2016. "The impact on health of employment and welfare transitions for those receiving out-of-work disability benefits in the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1-10.
    21. Stephen Fothergill, 2001. "The True Scale of the Regional Problem in the UK," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(3), pages 241-246.
    22. Whittaker, W & Sutton, M, 2010. "Mental health, work incapacity and State transfers: an analysis of the British Household Panel Survey," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 10/21, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.

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