The Norwegian social insurance system insures individuals against sickness, disability, and unemployment, in addition to providing old age pensions. Large resources are allocated for these purposes. The total expenses of the National Insurance Administration are around 350 bill NOK in 2012. (For comparison, GDP is around 2700 bill. NOK.). Norway has more than 310.000 disability pensioners out of a population of 5 million inhabitants. Increasing expenses have led to questions whether these resources are used optimally, and whether the system's incentive structure may have unintended side-effects. The Centre for Economic Studies in Social Insurance at the Department of Economics aims to carry out and stimulate research on questions regarding the economic effects of the sosial insurance system. The Centre is an integrated part of the Department of Economics, but under an obligation to research and teaching in social insurance economics. Some examples of our research agenda are:
- The effects of social insurance on labour force inflows and outflows
- Causes for the increasing number of disability pensioners
- Sickpay and sickness absence
- Programme evaluation
- Long term effects of social security
- The connections between family structure, social insurance and living conditions
- Family background
- Youths and the early labour market experience
The Centre's research focus is mainly empirical, working together with colleagues at our own department and at other research institutions. Furthermore, several students have written their master's theses on problems related to social insurance.
The Centre for Economic Studies in Social Insurance is financed by the The Research Council of Norway for the period 2010-2015.