1. Gender Differences in the Determinants and Consequences for Long-Term Illness: A Comparative Analysis of Sweden and Poland.
- Author
-
Lovell, Rachel E.
- Subjects
DISEASES ,GENDER ,SEX differences (Biology) ,JOB absenteeism - Abstract
This paper examines one particular type of occupational-career interruption, long-term illness. Event history analysis using panel surveys in Sweden (HUS) and Poland (POLPAN) are employed to uncover gender differences in factors that trigger work absenteeism due to illness and change score regression for the consequences of this type of interruption in Sweden and Poland. Sweden has an extremely generous welfare state and high levels of gender equality, while Poland continues to undergo radical social changes in its transformation to a capitalist state. Gender differences were expected to be present due to women's greater childcare and household responsibilities. Illness is construed not as one's probability of becoming ill but in terms of labor force participation. Workers make decisions within institutional contextsâ?”implying that women and men differ in terms of how they make decisions about whether to alter their labor market activity for an illnessâ?”accounting for the perceived impact that an interruption could have on their wages. Gender differences are found in both countries in the factors that determine whether one has an interruption and the long-term impact that an illness interruption has on wages. However, comparatively there are major differences between countries. In Sweden, women have a significantly negative impact on wages for illness interruptions. In Poland, it is men that suffer long-term negative consequences on wages for illness interruptions. The cross-national variation is attributed to gender differences in labor market experiences in Sweden and Poland and the legacies of gender equity policies. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007