The Anatomy of Absenteeism

37 Pages Posted: 21 Jun 2009

See all articles by Simen Markussen

Simen Markussen

University of Oslo - Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research

Knut Roed

Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Ole Jorgen Røgeberg

Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research

Simen Gaure

University of Oslo - Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research

Abstract

Based on comprehensive administrative register data from Norway, we examine the determinants of sickness absence behavior; in terms of employee characteristics workplace characteristics, panel doctor characteristics, and economic conditions. The analysis is based on a novel concept of a worker's steady state sickness absence propensity, computed from a multivariate hazard rate model designed to predict the incidence and the duration of sickness absence for all workers. Key conclusions are i) that most of the cross-sectional variation in absenteeism is caused by genuine employee heterogeneity; ii) that the identity of a person's panel doctor has a significant impact on absence propensity; iii) that sickness absence insurance is frequently certified for reasons other than sickness; and iv) that the recovery rate rises enormously just prior to the exhaustion of sickness insurance benefits.

Keywords: sickness absence, multivariate hazards, MMPH, NPMLE

JEL Classification: C14, C41, H55, I18, J22

Suggested Citation

Markussen, Simen and Røed, Knut and Røgeberg, Ole Jorgen and Gaure, Simen, The Anatomy of Absenteeism. IZA Discussion Paper No. 4240, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1423356 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1423356

Simen Markussen (Contact Author)

University of Oslo - Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research ( email )

Gaustadalleen 21
N-0317 Oslo
Norway

Knut Røed

Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research ( email )

Gaustadalleen 21
N-0349 Oslo
Norway

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Ole Jorgen Røgeberg

Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research ( email )

Gaustadalleen 21
N-0349 Oslo
Norway
+ 47 22 95 88 27 (Phone)
+ 47 22 95 88 25 (Fax)

Simen Gaure

University of Oslo - Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research ( email )

Gaustadalleen 21
N-0317 Oslo
Norway