Health and Death Risk and Income Decisions: Evidence from Microfinance
利用巴基斯坦农村小额信贷数据，研究发现购买住院和意外死亡保险的借款人更倾向于维持原有贷款用途，减少收入来源多样化，可能提高预期利润。
This paper examines the relationship between health and death risk and income decisions in rural Pakistan. Using data from a microfinance institution, we analyse how insurance against hospitalisation and accidental death influences the purpose of microcredit loans. After correcting for the endogeneity of insurance uptake, we find that individuals are more likely to maintain the same loan purpose as their previous loan if they are insured. The result suggests that households that are insured against hospitalisation and accidental death pursue less diversified income portfolios. This movement away from diversification may increase expected profits.