The effects of disability and caregiving on work and perceptions of economic insecurity in Sweden, Italy, Germany, and the UK

ABSTRACT Disability is associated with a range of structural disadvantages facing individuals and households alike. Drawing from a recent online cross-national survey of Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the UK, we explore the relationships between disability, caregiving, employment, and perceived economic insecurity. We examine whether having a household member with disabilities increases the likelihood of caregiving, and whether both disability and caregiving shape employment outcomes as well as perceptions of economic insecurity. In addition to finding that people with disabilities are less likely to work, we also find that individuals living in households with a disabled member are significantly more likely to engage in caregiving activities, which contributes to reduced employment. As a result, households that included a member with a disability tended to experience greater economic insecurity. We also find that instances of providing care and perceptions of economic insecurity are comparatively greater in Italy. Together, these findings point to important family and caregiving dynamics and their relationship to work and feelings of economic security in different policy contexts.