Abstract
This paper estimates the cost of informal care in Spain analyzing their evolution in the last decade. Furthermore, the linkage between informal and formal care, with which it could be replaced, is determined. We find that in Spain 3.8 million people are dependent, approximately 40 % receive informal care and more than 10 % make use of some formal services. Estimation results indicate that the annual costs of informal care are between €22 and 33 thousand million representing approximately 8 % of the Spanish GDP. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the fact that the use of appropriate formal services can reduce the need of informal care to 60 %. However, the main problem is formal services heterogeneity of each Spanish region. Therefore, more studies are needed to assess the Spanish portfolio of formal services and find which are appropriates for each individual so that costs be reduced.
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Notes
Micro data file, register design and valid variable values of Survey on Disability, Personal Autonomy and Dependency Situations can be found at the following website of the National Institute of Statistics of Spain: http://www.ine.es/prodyser/micro_disca.htm
For 2002 the estimate of Oliva and Osuna-Guerrero (2009) was employed.
Calculation of percentages based on the population of Spain in 2002 (41,837,894 people)
Calculation of percentages based on the population of Spain in 2008 (46,157,822 people)
Population increased between 2002 and 2008 in 4,319.928 (10.3 %).
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Moya-Martínez, P., Escribano-Sotos, F. & Pardo-García, I. Estimating Total Informal Care Costs in Spain. Can Formal Care Reduce it?. Ageing Int 39, 403–420 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-013-9189-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-013-9189-0