Do Work Conditions Affect Individual Health? - An Economic Valuation of Job Stressors and the Work-Life Balance

29 Pages Posted: 13 Sep 2012

See all articles by Stefan Boes

Stefan Boes

University of Lucerne

Kaspar Wüthrich

University of Bern - Department of Economics

Date Written: April 12, 2012

Abstract

We estimate the impact of qualitative job characteristics on self-rated general health and the prevalence of specific illnesses. Using panel data and controlling for individual- specific effects and pre-existing health, we find that the perceived risk of unemployment, but not unemployment per se, and an imbalanced work-life have major detrimental effects on health. We calculate compensating income variations ranging from about 10 to 50 percent for a negative work condition. Our results call for an intervention at the workplace to reduce the number of ill-days and prevent long-term health damages.

Keywords: health, work stress, job security, work-life balance, fixed effects

JEL Classification: I10, J28, J81

Suggested Citation

Boes, Stefan and Wüthrich, Kaspar, Do Work Conditions Affect Individual Health? - An Economic Valuation of Job Stressors and the Work-Life Balance (April 12, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2145246 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2145246

Stefan Boes (Contact Author)

University of Lucerne ( email )

Frohburgstrasse 3
P.O. Box 4466
Lucerne, Lucerne CH - 6002
Switzerland

Kaspar Wüthrich

University of Bern - Department of Economics ( email )

Schanzeneckstrasse 1
Bern, CH-3001
Switzerland

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