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Measuring Social and Externality Benefits of Influenza Vaccination

Author

Listed:
  • Corey White

Abstract

Vaccination represents a canonical example of externalities in economics, yet there are few estimates of their magnitudes. I estimate social and externality benefits of influenza vaccination in two settings. First, using a natural experiment, I estimate the impacts of aggregate vaccination rates on mortality and work absences in the United States. Second, I examine a setting with large potential externality benefits: vaccination mandates for healthcare workers. I find that the social benefits of vaccination are substantial, most of benefits operate through an externality, and the benefits of healthcare worker vaccination are particularly large.

Suggested Citation

  • Corey White, 2021. "Measuring Social and Externality Benefits of Influenza Vaccination," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(3), pages 749-785.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:56:y:2021:i:3:p:749-785
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.3.1118-9893R2
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/56/3/749
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    Cited by:

    1. Seth M. Freedman & Daniel W. Sacks & Kosali I. Simon & Coady Wing, 2022. "Direct and indirect effects of vaccines: Evidence from COVID-19," NBER Working Papers 30550, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Siew Ling Yew & Jie Zhang, 2023. "Health Externalities to Productivity and Efficient Health Subsidies," CAMA Working Papers 2023-31, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    3. N. Meltem Daysal & Hui Ding & Maya Rossin-Slater & Hannes Schwandt, 2021. "Germs in the Family: The Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Intra-Household Disease Spread," NBER Working Papers 29524, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Zoungrana, Tibi Didier & Yerbanga, Antoine & Ouoba, Youmanli, 2022. "Socio-economic and environmental factors in the global spread of COVID-19 outbreak," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(4), pages 325-344.
    5. Manuel Hoffmann & Roberto Mosquera & Adrian Chadi, 2019. "Vaccines at Work," TWI Research Paper Series 116, Thurgauer Wirtschaftsinstitut, Universität Konstanz.
    6. N. Meltem Daysal & Hui Ding & Maya Rossin-Slater & Hannes Schwandt, 2021. "Germs in the Family: The Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Intra-Household Disease Spread," NBER Working Papers 29524, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Reddinger, J. Lucas & Charness, Gary & Levine, David, 2022. "Prosocial motivation for vaccination," SocArXiv emj6v, Center for Open Science.
    8. Yun Qiu & Xi Chen & Wei Shi, 2020. "Impacts of social and economic factors on the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 1127-1172, October.
    9. Siuda, Fabian & Zörner, Thomas O., 2025. "Vaccinations and the Costs of Human Interaction," VfS Annual Conference 2025 (Cologne): Revival of Industrial Policy 325444, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    10. Brandyn F. Churchill & Laura E. Henkhaus & Emily C. Lawler, 2025. "Effect of vaccine recommendations on consumer and firm behavior," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(1), pages 125-150, January.
    11. Yufei Xie & Yiheng Liu & Jin Feng, 2025. "Healthcare spillovers of spousal health shocks in China: evidence from administrative data," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 1-28, March.
    12. Slusky, David J.G. & Zeckhauser, Richard J., 2021. "Sunlight and Protection Against Influenza," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    13. Neilson, William & Xiao, Yancheng, 2018. "Equilibrium vaccination patterns in incomplete and heterogeneous networks," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 174-192.
    14. Yancheng Xiao & Matthew Harris & Alissa O'Halloran & Jamison Pike, 2025. "Influenza Vaccination and Occupational Social Intensity: Evidence From U.S. Workers," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(9), pages 1614-1647, September.
    15. Lerva,Benedetta, 2023. "The Monetary Value of Externalities : Experimental Evidence from Ugandan Farmers," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10521, The World Bank.
    16. Siew Ling Yew & Jie Zhang, 2025. "Health externalities to labor productivity and optimal policies with endogenous fertility, labor, and longevity," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 1-42, June.
    17. repec:osf:socarx:emj6v_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Reddinger, J. Lucas & Charness, Gary & Levine, David, 2024. "Vaccination as personal public-good provision," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 481-499.
    19. Stefan Pichler & Katherine Wen & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2021. "Positive Health Externalities of Mandating Paid Sick Leave," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 715-743, June.
    20. Liebman, Eli & Lawler, Emily C. & Dunn, Abe & Ridley, David B., 2023. "Consequences of a shortage and rationing: Evidence from a pediatric vaccine," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    21. Robert J. Niewoehner & Bradley R. Staats, 2022. "Focusing Provider Attention: An Empirical Examination of Incentives and Feedback in Flu Vaccinations," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(5), pages 3680-3702, May.
    22. Alexander Karaivanov & Dongwoo Kim & Shih En Lu & Hitoshi Shigeoka, 2022. "COVID-19 vaccination mandates and vaccine uptake," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(12), pages 1615-1624, December.
    23. Antonio M. Bento & Noah Miller & Mehreen Mookerjee & Edson Severnini, 2023. "Incidental Adaptation: The Role of Non-climate Regulations," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 86(3), pages 305-343, November.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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