Do Labor Market Institutions Influence Suicide Mortality? An International Panel Data Analysis

Christian Breuer and Horst Rottmann

No 4875, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We examine the economic and social determinants of suicide mortality in a panel of 25 OECD countries over the period 1970 – 2011 and explicitly analyze the effects of unemployment and labor market institutions on suicide rates. In line with a large body of literature our results suggest that unemployment increases suicide mortality, while real economic growth tends to decrease suicides. The results also indicate that unemployment benefits decrease suicides of males, while relatively strict employment protection regulations have a positive influence on suicide mortality. These findings indicate that labor market institutions may influence job satisfaction and the quality of life in industrial countries. We suggest taking into account the role of labor market institutions when analyzing the effects of institutional and economic determinants on health.

Keywords: panel data; suicide; employment protection; unemployment benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 E24 I10 J65 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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