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The Effects of Sickness Absence in School on Educational Achievements, Mortality and Income

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  • Kamhöfer, Daniel A.
  • Cattan, Sarah
  • Karlsson, Martin
  • Nilsson, Therese

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of missed instruction time in school on short-term educational performance as well as long-term retirement income and mortality. Using self-gathered Swedish register data, we are able to distinguish total days of absence within a school year and missed instructional time due to sickness. Using various fixed effects strategies and an instrumental variables approach we find that individual absence leads on average to a decrease of 4.4% of standard deviation in educational performance per school year. Our results suggest that the negative effect of sickness is mainly driven by missed instructional time. The sign of the long-run consequences of absence are in line with economic theory but the effect size is rather small.

Suggested Citation

  • Kamhöfer, Daniel A. & Cattan, Sarah & Karlsson, Martin & Nilsson, Therese, 2015. "The Effects of Sickness Absence in School on Educational Achievements, Mortality and Income," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113180, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc15:113180
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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