Beyond Hot Flashes: The Career Cost of Menopause
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SeriesHealth Economics Seminars
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Speaker(s)Sara Abrahamsson (Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway)
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FieldEmpirical Microeconomics
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LocationErasmus University Rotterdam, Langeveld 1.18
Rotterdam -
Date and time
June 03, 2025
12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
Menopause marks a crucial juncture in women's lives and careers. We provide novel evidence on the effects of menopause onset on labor and health outcomes. Combining Norwegian register with survey data from the HUNT study on self-reported menopause age, we apply a stacked difference-in-differences design. Our findings show declines in earnings, increased sick leave, and more diagnoses related to menopause. Additionally, women without symptoms, and those with mild symptoms who seek care, do not experience earnings losses. Moreover, timely healthcare-seeking and treatment onset can mitigate earnings losses. This suggests that policies promoting menopause awareness could alleviate individual and societal burdens.