How to Reduce Sickness Absences in Sweden: Lessons from International Experience

David Rae

No 442, OECD Economics Department Working Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: Sweden’s single biggest economic problem is the high number of people absent from work due to sickness or disability. This paper describes the problem and looks at what other countries have done to reduce absenteeism. It emphasises a mutual obligations approach to sickness insurance. This means placing greater responsibilities on the sick person, the employer and the social insurance office to get that person back to work as soon as possible.

Réduire l'incidence des congés de maladie en Suède : Les enseignements de l'expérience internationale Le principal problème économique de la Suède est le taux élevé d’absentéisme pour cause de maladie ou d’invalidité. Cette communication expose le problème et examine les mesures prises par d’autres pays pour y remédier. Il souligne l’importance de fonder le système d’assurance-maladie sur le principe de l’obligation mutuelle. Ceci suppose de responsabiliser davantage le travailleur malade, l’employeur et le bureau d’assurance sociale pour que l’intéressé reprenne son activité le plus rapidement possible.

Keywords: aléa moral; assurance maladie; labour supply; moral hazard; offre de travail; sickness insurance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I38 J20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-09-19
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-ias
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:442-en

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