Review of Behavioral Economics > Vol 4 > Issue 3

Crowding-out Effects of Microinsurance and Solidarity: A Study by Artefactual Experiment in Cambodia

Seiichi Fukui, Kyoto University, Japan, seifukui@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp , Mitsuo Inada, Miyazaki Municipal University, Japan, mitsuoinada@gmail.com
 
Suggested Citation
Seiichi Fukui and Mitsuo Inada (2017), "Crowding-out Effects of Microinsurance and Solidarity: A Study by Artefactual Experiment in Cambodia", Review of Behavioral Economics: Vol. 4: No. 3, pp 241-273. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/105.00000066

Publication Date: 09 Nov 2017
© 2017 S. Fukui and M. Inada
 
Subjects
Health economics
 

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In this article:
1. Introduction 
2. Survey Methodology and Design of Microinsurance Game 
3. Household Characteristics: Results of Solidarity Game 
4. Econometric Analysis 
5. Conclusion 
A. Experimental Procedure 
B. Risk and Time Preference Games 
C. Endogeneity Problem 
D. Unit root test 
E. Methodologies to Cope with Potential Endogeneity Problem 
F. Estimation Results of Two Types of Pooled Formal Insurance 
References 

Abstract

This study investigates whether take-up of microinsurance has crowding-out effects on solidarity for informal insurance and whether sentiments that are the fundamental cause of solidarity discourage take-up of microinsurance. We implement a solidarity game experiment in rural Cambodia to answer the following questions. Do experiment subjects who purchase insurance or know that microinsurance is adopted by other subjects decrease income transfers for other subjects? Do subjects who know that microinsurance is introduced and can be adopted by anonymous subjects decrease income transfers for other subjects? Does microinsurance reduce (increase) income transfers due to crowding effects, even if it is removed? Lastly, if solidarity is stronger among group members, are members less likely to adopt microinsurance? The results surprisingly show that crowding-in information effects exist, while framing effects do not. In addition, solidarity has a negative impact on take-up of microinsurance, and information crowding-in effects disappear after microinsurance is removed.

DOI:10.1561/105.00000066