Employer downsizing and older workers’ health
We
estimate the effects of employer downsizing on older workers’ health outcomes
using different approaches to control for endogeneity and sample
selection. With the exception of the
instrumental variables approach, which provides large imprecise estimates, our
results suggest that employer downsizing increases the probability that older
workers rate their health as fair or poor; increases the risk of showing
symptoms of clinical depression; and increases the risk of being diagnosed with
stroke, arthritis, and psychiatric or emotional problems. We find weaker
evidence that downsizing increases the risk of showing high levels of
C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of general inflammation. We find that downsizing affects health by
increasing job insecurity and stress, but that its effects remain statistically
significant after controlling for these pathways, suggesting that other
mechanisms such as diminished morale and general demotivation also affect
worker health. Our findings suggest that employers ought to consider actions to
offset the detrimental health effects of reducing personnel on their remaining
(older) workers.
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