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Health insurance premium changes and labor supply: Evidence from a low-income country

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  • Rukundo, Emmanuel Nshakira
  • Schroeder, Sarah
  • Hisarciklilar, Mehtap
  • McKay, Andrew D.

Abstract

We study the effect of a health insurance premium change on labour supply. Using a matching with difference-in-differences strategy on a pooled nationwide cross-sectional and panel data, we find that both premium waivers and premium increased led to a reduction in labor supply by almost similar margins. We also show that the policy change reduced the probability of wage employment and increased domestic labour supply,, pointing to potential income effects for waivers and potential manipulation effects for premium increases. Our results are robust fo various specifications and raise concerns of the unintended effects of popular but likely inefficient community-based welfare targeting methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Rukundo, Emmanuel Nshakira & Schroeder, Sarah & Hisarciklilar, Mehtap & McKay, Andrew D., 2024. "Health insurance premium changes and labor supply: Evidence from a low-income country," Ruhr Economic Papers 1103, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:308800
    DOI: 10.4419/96973281
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health insurance; premium changes; labor supply; Rwanda;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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