Public health insurance and the labor market: Evidence from China's Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance
研究利用中国城镇居民基本医疗保险（URBMI）的逐步实施，发现该保险虽未显著影响劳动参与率，但降低了工作锁定、增加了就业流动性，尤其对女性、低学历和健康不佳者影响更大。
This study provides empirical evidence on the labor market effects of public health insurance using evidence from China. In 2007, China launched a national public health insurance program, Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI), targeting residents in urban areas who were not insured by employment-based health insurance. Using panel data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, I identify the impacts of the program based on its staggered implementation across cities. I find that URBMI did not have a significant average causal effect on labor force participation. However, it did increase employment mobility, as evidenced by the decrease in long-term employment and expansion of fixed-term contract jobs and self-employment. After the program was implemented, job lock declined and job flexibility increased, especially among women, the less educated, and individuals with good health status. The results also suggest increased employment for unhealthy workers, indicating a direct health improvement effect.