Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics

No 1212: Exploring Digital Time Measurement in the Public Sector: Labor Productivity and Service Quality in Home Care

Henrik Jordahl and Lovisa Persson ()
Additional contact information
Henrik Jordahl: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Postal: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Lovisa Persson: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Postal: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: We measure labor productivity in home care using new data from the recent introduction of digital time measurement in Swedish municipalities. By measuring worker utilization (delivered hours as a share of worked hours) we avoid several problems that have plagued previous studies of public sector productivity. The time use measure exposes substantial variation in productivity between home care units, suggesting room for improvement. More productive units deliver a larger share of the hours approved by care managers and have equally satisfied users.

Keywords: Public sector productivity; Digitalization; Time use; Choice reforms

JEL-codes: H42; H44; L33

Language: English

29 pages, May 3, 2018

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