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Take-Up and Labor Supply Responses to Disability Insurance Earnings Limits

Author

Listed:
  • Judit Krekó

    (Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Budapest Institute for Policy Analysis)

  • Dániel Prinz

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Andrea Weber

    (Central European University)

Abstract

In most disability insurance programs beneficiaries lose some or all of their benefits if they earn above an earnings threshold. While intended to screen out applicants with high remaining working capacity, earnings limits can also distort the labor supply of beneficiaries. We develop a simple framework to evaluate this trade-off. We use a reduction in the earnings limit in Hungary to examine screening and labor supply responses. We find that the policy changed selection into the program modestly but reduced labor supply significantly. Viewed through the lens of our model, these findings suggest that the earnings threshold should be higher.

Suggested Citation

  • Judit Krekó & Dániel Prinz & Andrea Weber, 2022. "Take-Up and Labor Supply Responses to Disability Insurance Earnings Limits," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2214, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:has:discpr:2214
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zaresani, Arezou, 2020. "Adjustment cost and incentives to work: Evidence from a disability insurance program," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Bound, John, 1989. "The Health and Earnings of Rejected Disability Insurance Applicants," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(3), pages 482-503, June.
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    5. David H. Autor, 2015. "The unsustainable rise of the disability rolls in the United States: causes, consequences and policy options," Chapters, in: John Karl Scholz & Hyungypo Moon & Sang-Hyup Lee (ed.), Social Policies in an Age of Austerity, chapter 5, pages 107-136, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Philippe Ruh & Stefan Staubli, 2019. "Financial Incentives and Earnings of Disability Insurance Recipients: Evidence from a Notch Design," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 269-300, May.
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    8. repec:aei:rpbook:24945 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Paukkeri, Tuuli & Ravaska, Terhi, 2024. "Labour supply responses to reducing the risk of losing disability insurance benefits," Working Papers 163, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Collischon, Matthias & Hiesinger, Karolin & Pohlan, Laura, 2023. "Disability and Labor Market Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 16100, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    disability insurance; earnings limit; labor supply;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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