Medical Innovation, Education, and Labor Market Outcomes of Cancer Patients

Authors

Sung-Hee Jeon, Statistics Canada
R. Vincent Pohl, University of GeorgiaFollow

Publication Date

3-1-2019

Series

Upjohn Institute working paper ; 19-306

DOI

10.17848/wp19-306

Abstract

Innovations in cancer treatment have lowered mortality, but little is known about their economic benefits. We assess the effect of two decades of improvements in cancer treatment options on the labor market outcomes of breast and prostate cancer patients. In addition, we compare this effect across cancer patients with different levels of educational attainment. We estimate the effect of medical innovation on cancer patients’ labor market outcomes employing tax return and cancer registry data from Canada and measuring medical innovation by using the number of approved drugs and a quality-adjusted patent index. While cancer patients are less likely to work after their diagnosis, we find that the innovations in cancer treatment during the 1990s and 2000s reduced the negative employment effects of cancer by 63–70 percent. These benefits of medical innovation are limited to cancer patients with postsecondary education, raising concerns about unequal access to improved treatment options.

Issue Date

March 2019

Sponsorship

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research Early Career Research Award 17-155-11

Subject Areas

LABOR MARKET ISSUES; Wages, health insurance and other benefits