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

In their article for European Societies, David Pettinicchio and Michelle Maroto examine data from a recent online cross-national survey of Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the UK to investigate 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. They argue that the impacts of caregiving on household economies requires supportive policies that approach care and disability as shared social responsibilities.

David Pettinicchio is Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, affiliated with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and author of Politics of Empowerment (Stanford) and Sixty Years of Visible Protest in the Disability Struggle for Equality, Justice, and Inclusion (Cambridge).

Citation

Pettinnichio, D. & Maroto, M. (2026). The effects of disability and caregiving on work and perceptions of economic insecurity in Sweden, Italy, Germany, and the UK. European Societies. https://doi.org/10.1162/EUSO.a.101

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.