Edward Conard

Top Ten New York Times Bestselling Author

  • “…a fresh argument for the productive value of inequality.” - David Autor, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • “Unintended Consequences offers deep and well-argued analyses on almost every issue.” - The New York Times
  • “…a very valuable contribution.” - Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury and director of the National Economic Council, president emeritus, Harvard University
  • “…reminds us that inequality sends a signal of what society lacks most, in America’s case, entrepreneurship and risk taking.” - Lawrence Lindsey, CEO, The Lindsey Group, former Director of the National Economic Council
  • “…a fresh argument for the productive value of inequality.” - David Autor, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
  • “There are an amazing number of good ideas and interesting points made in Unintended Consequences. The thinking underlying it, and the obvious depth of understanding of the author, are very impressive.” - Steven Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics; 2004 John Bates Clark Medal
  • “…reminds us that inequality sends a signal of what society lacks most, in America’s case, entrepreneurship and risk taking.” - Lawrence Lindsey, CEO, The Lindsey Group, former Director of the National Economic Council
  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
  • “Unintended Consequences is full of substance, it is one of the must-read books of the year, and once I finish it I will be giving it a second read through right away.” - Tyler Cowen, Professor, George Mason University
  • “A full-throated defense of economic dynamism.” - The Wall Street Journal
  • “…a very valuable contribution.” - Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury and director of the National Economic Council, president emeritus, Harvard University
Upside of Inequality Oxford Unintended Consequences

AI Summary. Harmonised labour force surveys across Western countries show rates of activity-limiting health conditions have risen markedly among people in their twenties and thirties in the UK, US, Ireland and Sweden, with little change among older groups. Receipt of health-related disability benefits shows a similar pattern, rising among young adults and led by the UK and Ireland.

John Burn-Murdoch Financial Times
Date Posted:
Is Database:
Database

Across the West, the age curve of activity-limiting health conditions has flattened due to a rise in disability rates among people in their 20’s and 30’s. “But there is little change — or even a reduction — further up the age distribution.” @jburnmurdoch

Are health-related work limitations and disability benefits rising among young adults?

Core argument: Harmonised labour force surveys across the West show the age curve of activity-limiting health conditions has flattened considerably in countries including the UK, US, Ireland and Sweden, with disability rates rising markedly among people in their twenties and thirties.

Using harmonised labour force surveys from across the west, I find that the age curve of activity-limiting health conditions has flattened considerably in many countries including the UK, US, Ireland and Sweden. Rates of disability have risen markedly among people in their twenties and thirties, but seen little change among older groups. I find that awards of health-related benefits show strikingly similar patterns, with the receipt of disability benefits among young adults rising in several countries, led by the UK and Ireland. But there is little change — or even a reduction — further up the age distribution.

Takeaways by Macro Roundup® AI

  1. Harmonised labour force surveys across the West show the age curve of activity-limiting health conditions has flattened considerably in countries including the UK, US, Ireland and Sweden, with disability rates rising markedly among people in their twenties and thirties.
  2. Rates of activity-limiting health conditions have changed little among older age groups even as they rise markedly among people in their twenties and thirties.
  3. Awards of health-related benefits follow strikingly similar patterns, with disability benefit receipt among young adults rising in several countries, led by the UK and Ireland, while showing little change or a reduction further up the age distribution.

Related Articles:

  • Further Evidence on the Global Decline in the Mental Health of the Young — Across cross-country survey data, the age pattern of reporting frequent unhappiness and depression reversed: one wave sloped upward with age while a later wave sloped downward, and women report more unhappiness. Young people with poorer mental health spend more daily time in front of a screen.
  • Disability Prevalence is Rising Alongside Employment — Reported disability among people aged 25-54 has risen about 0.9 percentage points to 6.9%, nearly 1.3m additional people and a 16% increase in that population. Increases in reported cognitive difficulties have been concentrated among younger people, rising about 1.1 percentage points for ages 16-34 and 0.7 points for ages 35-44 — at least 25% increases in prevalence.
  • Not Working, Out-of-School Young Adults in the U.S. by Race and Geography — More than a third of U.S. young adults reported no salary or wages, and 13.3% were neither in school nor working outside the summer months, down slightly from a record 14%. Disconnection rates are highest in rural areas (1 in 5) and among young Black adults, reaching 29.1% in rural areas.
Showing 96 database articles primarily about Unemployment/Participation