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Research ArticleArticle

Labor Supply Responses to Health Shocks: Evidence from High-Frequency Labor Market Data from Urban Ghana

Rachel Heath, Ghazala Mansuri and Bob Rijkers
Published online before print November 13, 2019, 0618-9584R2; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.57.1.0618-9584R2
Rachel Heath
Rachel Heath: the University of Washington and BREAD; Ghazala Mansuri: the World Bank; Bob Rijkers: the World Bank. Postal address: Box 353330; Seattle WA 98195.
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Ghazala Mansuri
Rachel Heath: the University of Washington and BREAD; Ghazala Mansuri: the World Bank; Bob Rijkers: the World Bank. Postal address: Box 353330; Seattle WA 98195.
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Bob Rijkers
Rachel Heath: the University of Washington and BREAD; Ghazala Mansuri: the World Bank; Bob Rijkers: the World Bank. Postal address: Box 353330; Seattle WA 98195.
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Abstract

Workers in developing countries are subject to frequent health shocks. Using 10 weeks of high-frequency labor market data that were collected in urban Ghana, this paper documents that men are 9 percentage points more likely to work in weeks in which another worker in the household is unexpectedly ill. The paper provides suggestive evidence that these effects are strongest among very risk averse men, men in poorer households, and men who are the highest earners in their household. By contrast, women display a net zero response to another worker’s illness, even women who are the highest earners in their household.

Keywords
  • labor supply
  • health shocks
  • Ghana
  • urban labor market
JEL Codes
  • J22
  • O12
  • I15

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Labor Supply Responses to Health Shocks: Evidence from High-Frequency Labor Market Data from Urban Ghana
Rachel Heath, Ghazala Mansuri, Bob Rijkers
Journal of Human Resources Nov 2019, 0618-9584R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.1.0618-9584R2

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Labor Supply Responses to Health Shocks: Evidence from High-Frequency Labor Market Data from Urban Ghana
Rachel Heath, Ghazala Mansuri, Bob Rijkers
Journal of Human Resources Nov 2019, 0618-9584R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.1.0618-9584R2
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Keywords

  • labor supply
  • health shocks
  • Ghana
  • urban labor market
  • J22
  • O12
  • I15
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