Act now: The effects of the 2008 Spanish disability reform. (24th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hill, Matthew J.; Silva, Jose I.; Vall Castello, Judit
• Is Part Of: Health economics. Volume 28:Number 7(2019)
• Page Start: 906
• Page End: 920
• Publication Date: 2019-06-24
• Subjects: disability benefits -- lifecycle model -- policy evaluation; Medical economics -- Periodicals; Economics, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Care Costs -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- economics -- Periodicals; Health Services -- economics -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1002/hec.3892
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9230

Abstract

Abstract: The 2008 reform of the Spanish disability system reduced the benefits for individuals who have a short contributory history relative to their age. It also unintentionally introduced an incentive for individuals to apply for disability in the present. We use a lifecycle model and an empirical analysis to understand the overall impact of the reform. Our baseline estimates suggest that men and women who were affected by the reform were 46% and 22% more likely to be on permanent partial disability following the reform, respectively, and 55% and 46% more likely to be on total disability, respectively.