The impact of macroeconomic variables on workplace accidents: A study of the visegrad countries

Employment is one of the key determinants of economic growth and social welfare. However, particularly in developing countries, policies focused on economic growth may lead to occupational health and safety (OHS) practices being overlooked. This study examines the effects of macroeconomic variables on workplace accidents in the Visegrad Group countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), using annual data covering the period 2013–2022. Whilst workplace accidents are used as the dependent variable, GDP per capita, the unemployment rate, trade openness and the rule of law have been included in the model as independent variables. The Swamy Random Coefficients Model was used for the analysis. The findings show that GDP per capita has a statistically significant negative effect on workplace accidents in all countries; this demonstrates that improvements in economic growth and living standards strengthen occupational health and safety practices. It was found that the unemployment rate has a statistically significant negative effect on workplace accidents in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The rule of law, as an indicator of institutional quality, was found to significantly reduce workplace accidents in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Furthermore, the fact that trade openness has a positive and statistically significant effect on workplace accidents in the Czech Republic and Poland suggests that increasing international competitive pressure may intensify production activities and adversely affect occupational health and safety practices. In conclusion, the findings of this study show that workplace accidents are influenced not only by technical and physical risks, but also by economic and organisational factors. It is therefore important that policies aimed at preventing workplace accidents adopt a holistic approach that takes into account both economic conditions and occupational health and safety practices.