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The Impact of Economic Conditions on Participation in Disability Programs: Evidence from the Coal Boom and Bust

Author

Listed:
  • Dan Black
  • Kermit Daniel
  • Seth Sanders

Abstract

We examine the impact of the coal boom of the 1970's and the coal bust of the 1980's on disability program participation. These shocks provide clear evidence that as the value of labor-market participation increases, disability program participation falls. For the Disability Insurance program, the elasticity of payments with respect to local earnings is between –0.3 and –0.4 and for Supplemental Security Income the elasticity is between –0.4 and –0.7. Consistent with a model where qualifying for disability programs is costly, the relationship between economic conditions and program participation is much stronger for permanent than for transitory economic shocks. (JEL, J0, H0)

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Black & Kermit Daniel & Seth Sanders, 2002. "The Impact of Economic Conditions on Participation in Disability Programs: Evidence from the Coal Boom and Bust," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(1), pages 27-50, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:92:y:2002:i:1:p:27-50
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/000282802760015595
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McKinley L. Blackburn & David E. Bloom & Richard B. Freeman, 1989. "The Declining Economic Position of Less-Skilled American Males," NBER Working Papers 3186, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Angrist, Joshua D, 1990. "Lifetime Earnings and the Vietnam Era Draft Lottery: Evidence from Social Security Administrative Records: Errata," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(5), pages 1284-1286, December.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General
    • H0 - Public Economics - - General

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    1. The Impact of Economic Conditions on Participation in Disability Programs: Evidence from the Coal Boom and Bust (AER 2002) in ReplicationWiki

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