Workers' compensation and consumption smoothing ☆
Workers' compensation and consumption smoothing ☆
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工人补偿和平滑☆
DOI：
10.1016/j.jpubeco.2011.12.005
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发表时间：
2012
影响因子：
9.8
通讯作者：
Erin T Bronchetti
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Erin T Bronchetti
本文研究了国家工人补偿（WC）计划的消费平滑效益。这些计划是最大和最有争议的社会保险形式之一，其假定目的是支持因工伤和疾病而受到意外收入冲击的家庭。使用健康和退休研究（HRS）数据的工人谁经历了与工作有关的，工作限制残疾的样本，我发现，WC福利慷慨增加10%抵消了家庭消费下降受伤后3%至5%。此外，我的估计意味着，如果福利很低，受伤后的消费下降将在30%的范围内。一个模型改编自文献中的最优社会保险收益率的最佳水平WC的好处，这取决于经验估计的消费平滑参数的公式。我的计算表明，目前WC的效益水平略高于最佳水平。
This paper investigates the consumption-smoothing benefits of state workers' compensation (WC) programs. These programs are among the largest and most controversial forms of social insurance, with the putative purpose of supporting families affected by unexpected income shocks due to workplace injuries and illnesses. Using Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data for a sample of workers who have experienced a work-related, work-limiting disability, I find that a 10% increase in WC benefit generosity offsets the drop in household consumption upon injury by 3 to 5%. Moreover, my estimates imply that if benefits were very low, the drop in consumption upon injury would be in the range of 30%. A model adapted from the literature on optimal social insurance yields a formula for the optimal level of WC benefits, which depends on empirical estimates of the consumption-smoothing parameter. My calculations suggest that current WC benefit levels are somewhat higher than optimal.