Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/63950 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
ETLA Discussion Papers No. 1112
Publisher: 
The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (ETLA), Helsinki
Abstract (Translated): 
Objective : This paper examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and sickness absence. Methods : We use regional panel data from Finland over the period 1993-2005. The data on individuals’ health that we are using originates from Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Population conducted by the National Public Health Institute. To control for the effect of economic conditions on the prevalence of sickness absence, we aggregate Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Population to the regional level. Then we link the data, using information on individuals’ residence, to the regional statistics produced by Statistics Finland. Panel data allows us to control for unobserved determinants of lifestyle behaviours associated with the region and survey year. Results : The results show that alcohol consumption is associated with sickness absence, and particularly so for men. Therefore, the earlier aggregate time-series evidence from Sweden is largely confirmed in a regional panel data setting. Conclusion : It is important to take into account the effects of alcohol consumption on sickness absence when considering the appropriate level of taxation of wines and spirits in Nordic countries.
Subjects: 
Alcohol consumption
sickness absence
JEL: 
I10
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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