Health Care Management Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
5-2011
Publication Source
American Economic Review
Volume
101
Issue
3
Start Page
339
Last Page
344
DOI
10.1257/aer.101.3.339
Abstract
Using Current Population Survey and US Army administrative data, we document that between 2000 and 2010, the employment rate of Vietnam era veterans fell markedly relative to non-veterans of the same cohorts while simultaneously their enrollment increased steeply in the Veterans Disability Compensation (DC) program, which provides healthcare and transfer payments to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Thirty percent of Vietnam era Army veterans enrolled in DC in 2006 received benefits for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with median annual payments of $25,500. The declining employment and rising transfer payments to Vietnam era veterans underscore the long-term private and public costs of wartime service, potentially stemming from both adverse health consequences and policies that have expanded benefits eligibility.
Copyright/Permission Statement
Copyright © 2016 AEA
Recommended Citation
Autor, D. H., Duggan, M., & Lyle, D. S. (2011). Battle Scars? The Puzzling Decline in Employment and Rise in Disability Receipt Among Vietnam Era Veterans. American Economic Review, 101 (3), 339-344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.101.3.339
Date Posted: 27 November 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.