Assessment of productivity losses due to diseases and injuries in Spain in 2009

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to estimate the productivity losses caused by diseases and injuries occurred in Spain in 2009. Using several data sources from the National Statistics Institute and The National Institute of Social Security, a simulation model based on the human-capital approach is performed to estimate the labour losses due to premature deaths and disability (permanent and temporary).

The total productivity losses are estimated to amount to 42,430 million of euros, of which 8,073 million of euros are due to the losses caused by premature deaths (19% of the total loss), 18,050 million of euros to permanent disability (42% of the total loss) and 16,306 million of euros to temporary disability (38.4% of the total loss). These figures represented 3.93% of the 2009 Gross Domestic Product of Spain, in other words, 60.3% of the total Public Health Expenditure in 2009. By type of disease or injury, diseases of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue accounted for 22.9% of the total loss, followed by external causes with 13.5%, metal disorders with 10.5% and tumors with 10.4%.