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Search, Acute Illness, and Absenteeism

Pyoungsik Kim

Journal of Human Resources2026https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0923-13099r4article
AJG 3ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

Abstract

This paper examines the economic costs of absenteeism from acute illness, which reduces labor market participation and burdens workers and firms. I extend a search, matching, and bargaining framework to incorporate medical care use, illness dynamics, health capital, and employer-sponsored health insurance (ESHI). Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), I estimate the model and find that acute illness lowers productivity, raises medical expenditures, and reduces welfare. Counterfactual analyses show subsidizing health capital improves total welfare. Moreover, while both a universal ESHI mandate and a penaltybased policy expand coverage, the penalty-based approach yields greater welfare gains.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0923-13099r4

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@article{pyoungsik2026,
  title        = {{Search, Acute Illness, and Absenteeism}},
  author       = {Pyoungsik Kim},
  journal      = {Journal of Human Resources},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0923-13099r4},
}

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Search, Acute Illness, and Absenteeism

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.