Commuting Time and Sick-Day Absence of Us Workers

25 Pages Posted: 20 Aug 2018 Last revised: 21 Apr 2023

See all articles by José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal

José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal

University of Zaragoza

Jose Alberto Molina

University of Zaragoza - Department of Economic Analysis

Jorge Velilla

University of Zaragoza

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between commuting time and sick-day absence of US workers. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for the years 2011, 2013, and 2015, we find that a 1% increase in the daily commute of male workers is associated with an increase of around 0.018% in sick-day absences per year. In the case of women, the relationship is not significant. These results hold after controlling for individual fixed effects and socio-demographic characteristics, changes in jobs and places of residence, and differences in the self-reported health status of workers. By determining how commuting time is related to sickness absenteeism, we shed light on the relationship between commuting behavior and workers' health-related outcomes, measured by their labour supply.

Keywords: commuting time, sickness absence, health-related outcomes, labour supply

JEL Classification: I10, J22, R2, R40

Suggested Citation

Giménez-Nadal, José Ignacio and Molina Chueca, Jose Alberto and Velilla, Jorge, Commuting Time and Sick-Day Absence of Us Workers. IZA Discussion Paper No. 11700, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3234223 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3234223

José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal (Contact Author)

University of Zaragoza ( email )

Gran Via 2
Zaragoza, 50005
Spain

Jose Alberto Molina Chueca

University of Zaragoza - Department of Economic Analysis ( email )

50005 Zaragoza
Spain

Jorge Velilla

University of Zaragoza

Gran Via 2
Zaragoza, 50005
Spain

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