The Health and Welfare Effects of Increases in Workers' Compensation Benefits

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Jinks, Lu
• 署名单位: Analysis Group Inc.
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/720456
• 发表日期: 2023
• 关键词: occupational injuries; moral hazard; medical-care; recurrence; duration; COSTS; disability; lost

摘要

This paper estimates the causal impacts of workers' compensation income benefits on workers' health and welfare outcomes. Using claims data from 2004 to 2016, I explore the variation in benefits due to a reform of New York workers' compensation that increased the maximum weekly benefits. I find that a $77 increase in the weekly benefits led to an additional 3.4 days off work. Medical utilization did not increase. Each extra day off work decreased the reinjury likelihood by 2.9%. The current benefit level in New York is close to optimal in balancing payer cost and worker health outcomes.