GLP-1 Treatment and Work Capacity

Maurizia Di Buono and Sergio Galletta

No 284, Working Papers in Public Economics from Department of Economics and Law, Sapienza University of Rome

Abstract: Using linked Finnish administrative records and a staggered difference-in-differences design, we estimate how starting semaglutide (Ozempic) affects work capacity, measured by medically certified sickness absence. The first purchase is followed by persistent use and improved glycemic control, indicating that recorded purchases correspond to sustained and clinically active treatment. The reduction in sickness absence is near zero during months 0–5, becomes progressively larger thereafter, and is largest during months 12–18. Averaged over event months 0–18, sickness allowance receipt falls by 16.9 percent and compensated days by 14.3 percent relative to pre-treatment means. The decline in full-day sickness absence is not offset by greater reliance on unemployment or partial sickness benefits. The results show that semaglutide improves work capacity and can generate economic benefits beyond its direct effects on metabolic health.

Keywords: semaglutide; GLP-1; blood glucose; sickness absence; social insurance; difference-indifferences; type 2 diabetes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 J21 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33
Date: 2026-09
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.dipecodir.it/wpsap/data/wp284.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sap:wpaper:wp284

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Working Papers in Public Economics from Department of Economics and Law, Sapienza University of Rome
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Luisa Giuriato ().