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Socioeconomic Status and Sickness Absence - What do twins tell us about causality?

Author

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  • Nilsson, William

    (Department of Economics, Umeå University)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate causal effects between socioeconomic status and absence from the workplace due to sickness. To be able to conclude that income causally affects health it is important to control for both reverse causality and unobserved heterogeneity. This study uses a Swedish sample of female twins and a semiparametric censored fixed-effects model. Spousal income is correlated in cross-section with the share of total income that comes from benefits due to sickness absence. Results from this twin study indicate that male spousal income, i.e. a non-shared environmental influence, does not have a causal effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Nilsson, William, 2006. "Socioeconomic Status and Sickness Absence - What do twins tell us about causality?," Umeå Economic Studies 670, Umeå University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:umnees:0670
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income; education; health; causality; twins;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C24 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models; Threshold Regression Models
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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