Fernández Guerrico, S, & Tojerow, I.

Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant, 2021-2023

There is a growing concern that constant connectivity to work may disrupt work-life balance and be detrimental to workers’ mental well-being. High-speed internet enables the work-related use of computers, mobile phones, and digital devices at home. This project studies the impact of the diffusion of high-speed internet on mental health-related disability insurance claims in Belgium. Our empirical strategy exploits Belgian cross-municipality variation in supply-side constraints to high-speed internet access based on the pre-existing telephone infrastructure. This project contributes to a broader understanding of the upward trend in mental-health related conditions and their role in the expansion of both regional and national disability insurance programs.