Closing the Gates? Evidence from a Natural Experiment on Physicians' Sickness Certification

Simen Markussen

Memo 19/2009

Last ned memo

This paper exploits a Norwegian physician directed reform aimed to reduce sick-leave. Physicians were required to consider part-time sick-leave as the default treatment and – in the case of long lasting full-time sick-leave – to file a report documenting why the worker was unable to perform any work related activities. The reform had a large impact, reducing sick-leave by 18.8 percent. The main effect came from reduced spell duration – which can be directly linked to the extended documentation requirement laid on physicians within the first 8 weeks of a sick-leave spell. Physician-directed policies may be an (cost-) effective way of reducing sick-leave.

Published June 20, 2014 11:33 AM - Last modified Mar. 27, 2024 6:14 PM