The effect of anti-discrimination legislation on individuals with disabilities in Nordic countries

Nordic countries are renowned for progressive welfare systems and a high quality of life, yet disparities persist between individuals with and without disabilities. This study investigates whether anti-discrimination legislation in these nations enhances socioeconomic outcomes for individuals with disabilities, focusing on subjective well-being, self-rated health, institutional trust, political engagement, labour market participation, and material conditions. The study uses a quasi-experimental design with a difference-in-differences approach, analysing data from the European Social Survey across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The sample includes 10,974 individuals aged 25–64 reporting significant daily activity limitations due to illness, disability, infirmity, or mental health issues. Outcomes were assessed before and after legislation adoption (2008–2018) using an extended two-way fixed effects model to estimate treatment effects across time and cohorts, with robustness checks via placebo tests and gender stratification. Findings show no significant improvement in subjective well-being, self-rated health, institutional trust, employment, or material conditions following anti-discrimination legislation. A slight increase in voting was observed five waves post-treatment, but placebo tests suggest this may reflect broader trends, not legislation effects. Disability-specific laws in Norway and Denmark showed minor increases in trust and life satisfaction, although parallel trends assumptions held weakly, and placebo results raise questions about causality. We conclude that anti-discrimination laws alone do not substantially enhance socioeconomic outcomes for individuals with disabilities in Nordic countries.