Caring For Carers? The Effect of Public Subsidies on the Well-Being of Unpaid Carers

B-Tier
Journal: American Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2023
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Pages: 487 - 522

Authors (3)

Joan Costa-Font (not in RePEc) Francesco D’Amico (not in RePEc) Cristina Vilaplana-Prieto (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.673 = (α=2.02 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study the effect of long-term care subsidies and supports on the well-being of unpaid caregivers. We draw on evidence from a policy intervention, which universalized previously means-tested caregiving supports in Scotland, known as free personal care (FPC). We document causal evidence of an increase in the well-being (happiness) of unpaid carers after the introduction of FPC. Our estimates suggest economically relevant improvements in happiness (12 percentage point increase in subjective well-being) among caregivers exposed to FPC and who provide at least 35 hours of care per week. Consistently, these results are larger among women and non-actively employed caregivers (17 percentage point increase in happiness). Estimates are not driven by selection into caregiving; they are explained by income effects of FPC among caregivers.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:amjhec:doi:10.1086/723539
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25