Insurance Benefits Research Articles

Housing and mental health inequalities during COVID-19: the role of income and housing support measures

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted people’s mental health and wellbeing. Using a national dataset of >11,000 Australians collected before and during the first two years of the pandemic, this study examines housing and mental health effects of COVID-19, and the extent to which access to government income support (social security measures, crisis payments and wage subsidy), early superannuation withdrawal, mortgage and rent relief, and tenant eviction moratoriums offered protection. Results show that the mental health gap between private rental and more secure housing tenures and between good- and poor-quality housing widened during the pandemic. Government income support provided a social safety net and was important in buffering housing instability especially when strong eviction moratoriums were lacking. Mortgage relief measures were associated significantly lower risks of housing affordability stress. Strong eviction moratoriums were effective in reducing risks of residential instability and forced moves. The pandemic exposed health vulnerabilities generated from people’s housing circumstances, reinforcing the need for public policies to address these social inequities to improve health and wellbeing. Findings emphasise the importance of tenure security, housing quality and enforcement of rental market interventions during disasters and identify the benefits of policies providing income support and strong eviction protection.

A Metric of Societal Burden Based on Virus Succession to Determine Economic Losses and Health Benefits of China's Lockdown Policies: Model Development and Validation.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the global health system and economic structure. Although the implementation of lockdown measures achieved notable success in curbing the spread of the pandemic, it concurrently incurred substantial socioeconomic costs. The objective of this study was to delineate an equilibrium between the economic losses and health benefits of lockdown measures, with the aim of identifying the optimal boundary conditions for implementing these measures at various pandemic phases. This study used a model to estimate the half-lives of the observed case fatality rates of different strains. It was based on global infection and death data collected by the World Health Organization and strain sequence time series data provided by Nextstrain. The connection between the health benefits and economic losses brought by lockdown measures was established through the calculation of disability-adjusted life years. Taking China's city lockdowns as an example, this study determined the cost-benefit boundary of various lockdown measures during the evolution of COVID-19. The study reveals a direct proportionality between economic losses due to lockdowns and the observed case fatality rates of virus strains, a relationship that holds true irrespective of population size or per capita economic output. As SARS-CoV-2 strains evolve and population immunity shifts, there has been a notable decrease in the observed case fatality rate over time, exhibiting a half-life of roughly 8 months. This decline in fatality rates may offset the health benefits of maintaining unchanged lockdown measures, given that the resultant economic losses might exceed the health benefits. The initial enforcement of lockdown in Wuhan led to significant health benefits. However, with the decline in the observed case fatality rate of the virus strains, the economic losses increasingly outweighed the health benefits. Consequently, it is essential to consistently refine and enhance lockdown strategies in accordance with the evolving fatality and infection rates of different virus strains, thereby optimizing outcomes in anticipation of future pandemics.

Impact of Livestock Insurance Schemes on Smallholder Farmers’ Resilience to Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the impact of livestock insurance schemes on smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in Saharan Africa. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the impact of livestock insurance schemes on smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in Saharan Africa. Preliminary empirical review revealed that livestock insurance schemes significantly enhanced the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing financial protection against climate-induced livestock losses, maintaining livestock assets, and stabilizing household incomes during climatic shocks. However, barriers such as high premium costs, limited awareness, and distrust in insurance providers hindered widespread adoption. Recommendations included premium subsidies, extensive education programs, and improved transparency to increase uptake. Integrating insurance with broader risk management strategies was also emphasized to maximize resilience benefits. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) may be used to anchor future studies on livestock insurance schemes on smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change. The study recommended integrating socio-economic factors into theoretical frameworks, enhancing practical training and capacity-building for farmers, and creating supportive regulatory policies to improve the adoption of livestock insurance schemes. It emphasized the importance of integrating insurance with broader risk management strategies, leveraging technological innovations to enhance accessibility, and conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure the schemes' effectiveness. These recommendations aimed to enhance smallholder farmers' resilience to climate change, maximize the benefits of livestock insurance, and ensure sustainable agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Livestock Insurance Schemes, Smallholder Farmers, Resilience, Climate Change, Sub-Saharan Africa, Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI)

The cost of inaction on preconception health in Nigeria: An economic impact analysis

ABSTRACT A growing body of evidence has shown the effects of poor preconception health on adverse pregnancy outcomes and, subsequently, maternal and child morbidity and mortality. However, the cost of poor preconception health remains relatively unexplored. Using the case of Nigeria, this study provides the first estimate of the disease and economic burden of poor preconception health at a country level. Using data from international databases and the scientific literature, the study used a cost-of-illness approach to quantify the foregone productivity and direct healthcare costs resulting from six preconception risk factors (adolescent pregnancy, short birth interval, overweight and obesity, intimate partner violence, female genital mutilation, folate deficiency). The results indicate that 6.7% of maternal deaths, 10.9% of perinatal deaths, and 10.5% of late neonatal deaths were attributable to the selected preconception risk factors in 2020. The economic burden of poor preconception health in Nigeria was estimated at US$ 3.3 billion in 2020, of which over 90% was generated by premature mortality. If prevalence rates remain constant, total economic losses could amount to US$ 46.2 billion by 2035. This analysis paves the way for further studies investigating the economic costs and benefits of preconception interventions and policies in low and middle-income countries.

The influence of agricultural insurance on agricultural carbon emissions: evidence from China’s crop and livestock sectors

Agricultural insurance is an important tool for promoting low-carbon agriculture and achieving the “Carbon Peaking and Neutrality” goal. Using panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2001 to 2020, this study analyzes the carbon-reducing effects of agricultural insurance in both crop and livestock sectors. The results show that: (1) Agricultural insurance can decrease agricultural carbon emissions. (2) For crops, agricultural insurance reduces carbon emissions through green technical efficiency, and for livestock products by green technological advances. (3) Agricultural insurance could lower carbon emissions from the livestock and crop sectors in the eastern region. The carbon-reducing benefits of agricultural insurance for the crop sector are seen in the agricultural, agro-pastoral, and pastoral domains; for the livestock sector, these impacts are only seen in the agricultural domains.

Monetary policy and risk of commercial banks in Vietnam

This study investigates the bank risk-taking channel of monetary policy transmission by comprehensively analyzing multiple bank risk measurements amid monetary policy shocks in Vietnam. Using banking data for 2008–2021, a dynamic panel model is estimated to examine the risk exposure of 30 Vietnamese commercial banks. The paper employs the annual M2 money supply growth as a monetary policy variable, besides two policy interest rates established by the central bank. We find that an expansion of monetary policy benefits the quality of loan portfolios; however, reduced interest rates or an extended money supply increase insolvency risk. We also document that heightened economic growth corresponds to a reduced likelihood of credit and insolvency risks, while a surge in the inflation rate leads to an escalation in insolvency risk, manifested by a decline in the Z-score index. Overall, the findings on different risk dimensions in this paper are expected to draw a comprehensive picture of banks’ risk appetite and behavior in response to monetary changes.

Irresponsible to others but responsible to me: Testing employees' responses to external corporate social irresponsibility and internal corporate social responsibility

AbstractDrawing upon deonance theory and expectancy violation theory, we investigate how employees react when their companies engage in corporate social irresponsibility (CSiR) that harms external stakeholders who are not employees themselves. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of perceived internal corporate social responsibility (CSR), which refers to employees' perceptions of how organizational actions and policies benefit them personally. We developed a conceptual model that illustrates the joint influence of external CSiR and internal CSR on employees' perceptual, relational, and behavioral outcomes. An online survey with 417 full‐time US employees revealed that employees tend to evaluate unethical corporate practices holistically, in the context of other factors, such as the company's moral character and internal CSR, rather than based on external immorality. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of employee reactions to both CSR and CSiR, emphasizing the importance of organizations evaluating the broader ramifications of their unethical actions.

Successful adoption of maritime environmental policy: The Mediterranean emission control area

Emission Control Areas (ECAs) are geographical locations designated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to reduce the negative impacts of shipping on health and biodiversity. The first ECA was adopted in 2005 in the Baltic Sea and three more have followed. Since 2004, the 21 countries located around the Mediterranean Sea have discussed the introduction of an ECA, and the final adoption by the IMO occurred in 2022, 18 years later. In this paper, we apply Kingdon’s Multiple Streams policy framework to a case study of this successful project in order to identify the key success factors that may be generalised to the difficult process of international environmental policymaking in the maritime sector. The findings revealed that policy entrepreneurs were able to align the three streams by financing studies and workshops (problem stream), adopting an existing successful policy (policy stream) and leveraging an existing close political relationship in the EU (politics stream) as well as overcoming issues raised by other parties through further analysis and studies showing the benefit of the ECA policy for all Mediterranean countries (linking the problem and policy streams). The study also highlighted the importance of first achieving regional agreement before approaching the IMO global level, a lesson that may also be pertinent to other areas of maritime policy making.

A Scoping Review of Causal Associations between Occupation and Cancer Occurrence and Legal Burden of Proof.

Occupational diseases, characterized by the gradual accumulation of work-related harmful effects over extended periods, often lack a distinct, identifiable incident causative of the disease. This ambiguity in pinpointing the work-relatedness of such diseases stems from the intricate interplay between occupational risks, workers' pathophysiological predispositions, and pre-existing health conditions, all of which evolve slowly over time. Consequently, establishing a definitive causal relationship between occupational exposure and disease manifestation becomes a pivotal, yet challenging, aspect in securing industrial accident insurance benefits. In contrast to occupational accidents, where causality is relatively more discernible, the complexity escalates in the context of occupational diseases. Typically, employers maintain the majority of data pertinent to establishing causality, but this data is frequently inadequate. Furthermore, the onus of proving the work-relatedness of a disease falls on the worker, a process that necessitates specialized medical knowledge, thereby compounding the difficulty. Imposing the burden of proof on workers in occupational disease litigation could lead to a lapse in worker protection. This paper critically explores methodologies to safeguard workers, focusing specifically on the burden of proof concerning causality in occupational diseases. This analysis aims to highlight the challenges workers face in establishing a connection between their work and disease, proposing potential legal and policy solutions to ensure more equitable and just outcomes in occupational disease claims.

Evaluating the Role, Costs, and Benefits of Insurance and Hedging in Financing Decisions

Evaluating the Role, Costs, and Benefits of Insurance and Hedging in Financing Decisions

Impact of the universal health insurance benefits on cervical cancer mortality in Colombia

BackgroundCervical cancer patients in Colombia have a lower likelihood of survival compared to breast cancer patients. In 1993, Colombia enrolled citizens in one of two health insurance regimes (contributory-private insurance and subsidized- public insurance) with fewer benefits in the subsidized regime. In 2008, the Constitutional Court required the Colombian government to unify services of both regimes by 2012. This study evaluated the impact of this insurance change on cervical cancer mortality before and after 2012.MethodsWe accessed 24,491 cervical cancer mortality records for 2006–2020 from the vital statistics of Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). We calculated crude mortality rates by health insurance type and departments (geopolitical division). Changes by department were analyzed by rate differences between 2006 and 2012 and 2013–2020, for each health insurance type. We analyzed trends using join-point regressions by health insurance and the two time-periods.ResultsThe contributory regime (private insurance) exhibited a significant decline in cervical cancer mortality from 2006 to 2012, characterized by a noteworthy average annual percentage change (AAPC) of -3.27% (P = 0.02; 95% CI [-5.81, -0.65]), followed by a marginal non-significant increase from 2013 to 2020 (AAPC 0.08%; P = 0.92; 95% CI [-1.63, 1.82]). In the subsidized regime (public insurance), there is a non-significant decrease in mortality between 2006 and 2012 (AAPC − 0.29%; P = 0.76; 95% CI [-2.17, 1.62]), followed by a significant increase from 2013 to 2020 (AAPC of 2.28%; P < 0.001; 95% CI [1.21, 3.36]). Examining departments from 2013 to 2020 versus 2006 to 2012, the subsidized regime showed fewer cervical cancer-related deaths in 5 out of 32 departments, while 6 departments had higher mortality. In 21 departments, mortality rates remained similar between both regimes.ConclusionImprovement of health benefits of the subsidized regime did not show a positive impact on cervical cancer mortality in women enrolled in this health insurance scheme, possibly due to unresolved administrative and socioeconomic barriers that hinder access to quality cancer screening and treatment.

Equal Opportunities in Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship: Challenges in Malaysia

Summary Malaysia’s rural demography is multi-racial, with a blend of indigenous sub-groups. To advance the socio-economic status of rural communities, the government introduced various incentives and protectionist policies, including targeted measures in tourism development. As rural Malaysia is predominantly home to the Malays, the indigenous Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, these policies are consistent with the government’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard these groups’ welfare. Notwithstanding the equal opportunity premise of the tourism policies, the government’s initiatives to advance rural tourism entrepreneurship arguably benefit some groups more than others. In West Malaysia, this is due to the indigenous Orang Asli’s lack of entrepreneurial readiness, which means that they are less able to capitalize on these opportunities. Consequently, the Malay entrepreneurs reap the benefits of protectionist policies and government aid, while the Orang Asli lag behind in tourism participation. This is arguably the outcome of a broad-brush approach in capacity building, with limited differentiation between the rural communities. Information © The Author 2024

Medical insurance benefits and health inequality: evidence from rural China.

Alleviating health inequality among different income groups has become a significant policy goal in China to promote common prosperity. Based on the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) covering the period from 2013 to 2018, this study empirically examines the impact of Integrated Medical Insurance System (URRBMI) on the health and health inequality of older adult rural residents. The following conclusions are drawn: First, URRBMI have elevated the level of medical security, reduced the frailty index of rural residents, and improved the health status of rural residents. Second, China exhibits "pro-rich" health inequality, and URRBMI exacerbates health inequality among rural residents with different incomes. This result remains robust when replacing the frailty index with different health modules. Third, the analysis of influencing mechanisms indicates that the URRBMI exacerbate inequality in the utilization of medical services among rural residents, resulting in a phenomenon of "subsidizing the rich by the poor" and intensifying health inequality. Fourth, in terms of heterogeneity, URRBMI have significantly widened health inequality among the older adult and in regions with a higher proportion of multiple-tiered medical insurance schemes. Finally, it is suggested that China consider establishing a medical financing and benefit assurance system that is related to income and age and separately construct a unified public medical insurance system for the older adult population.

The Influence of Compensation on Life Insurance Agents’ Work Performance in Surabaya

The most important thing in the insurance industry to remain sustainable and able to compete in this era of globalization, one of which is the role of agents. Agents as salespeople in insurance companies are the spearhead of the company. Apart from that, Insurance Agents have a big duty and responsibility in providing education to the public about the benefits of insurance and changing the anti-insurance mindset of the public to become insurance minded. Therefore, it is a crucial thing to research regarding agent work performance, and one of the factors that influences agent work performance is in terms of compensation, where there is financial and non-financial compensation received by insurance agents. This research aims to determine the influence of financial and non-financial compensation variables on the work performance of insurance agents in Surabaya. This research uses a quantitative method using a descriptive approach that focuses on hypothesis testing, with statistical analysis and produces conclusions that can be generalized. The population used in this research was insurance agents in Surabaya, totaling 800 people. The sampling technique in this research was random sampling technique, using the Slovin formula to determine the sample size from the total population. The data collection method uses a questionnaire, which is then processed using; validity test, reliability test, classical assumption test and multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS 22 software. The research results show that there is a positive influence between the independent variable and the dependent variable, Financial Compensation and Non-Financial Compensation partially and simultaneously have an effect significant impact on Insurance Agent Work Performance in Surabaya.

Formulating marketing strategy of Si Bijak microinsurance using SWOT analysis, marketing mix and Business Model Canvas

Life risks can happen to anyone, including low-income people who are vulnerable to the risk of death and loss of property due to unexpected events. This research uses SWOT analysis, marketing strategy, 7P marketing mix, and Business Model Canvas to find out the causes of sales failure and solutions that can be used as a reference for the sale of Si Bijak microinsurance in the future. This research method uses qualitative methods through literature analysis, data, and information from interviews with 4 (four) subjects directly conducted in November 2023-January 2024 and verified through repeated checks so that it can be analyzed. The results showed the need for repricing and the number of insurance benefits, the addition of diverse marketing communication channels and media, massive sales activities through cooperation with microfinance institutions, social institutions, and communities, development of microinsurance application technology, increasing education/literacy to the public, promotional activities for ease of sales, and supervision and support from regulators.

Building a Green Future: The Role of Environmental Accounting in the Public Sector

This article aims to understand the role of environmental accounting in the public sector and how it can contribute to the development of a green and sustainable future. Using a qualitative approach and research instruments such as interviews and document analysis, this study finds that environmental accounting can be an important strategic tool for the public sector. In this context, environmental accounting can assist in (1) Informing decision-making by providing relevant information on the environmental costs and benefits of various actions and policies. (2) Increasing transparency and accountability by reporting on the environmental impacts of public sector activities. (3) Identify opportunities for efficiency and savings by tracking and analyzing resource use. (4) Encourage innovation by highlighting opportunities for the development of new processes or products that are more environmentally friendly. (5) And, support the achievement of sustainable goals by assisting in setting, tracking, and achievement of sustainable goals. This research contributes to our understanding of the strategic role of environmental accounting in promoting sustainability in the public sector, demonstrating that its adoption can help build a green and sustainable future. Keywords: environmental accounting, public sector

Ride-hailing drivers’ working conditions and social protection in China

ABSTRACT This article aims to examine ride-hailing drivers’ working conditions and social protection in China. Through interviews with 25 ride-hailing drivers in Beijing, we found that their working conditions are precarious, stressful, surveilled, and their social protection exhibits features of inadequacy and fragmentation. They are excluded from social insurance for urban employees due to the lack of a formal employment relationship. Instead, they largely participate in the medical insurance for residents, but its insurance benefits are much lower than those for urban employees. Furthermore, citizens’ participation in residents’ medical insurance is determined by their hukou (i.e. household registration) residency. Internal migrant drivers are only entitled to be insured at their origin where their hukou is located. Despite working in the same occupation and living in the same city, internal migrant drivers and Beijing-native drivers have distinct social insurance benefits. Thus, we propose the binary classification of de jure/de facto residency, which contributes to a deeper understanding of social protection for non-standard forms of employment.

Synthesization of macroeconomic policies and stock return synchronicity: Evidence from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative

This study investigated the impact of macroeconomic policy changes in China on the stock markets of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners, whose economies have significant spillover effects. This topic is critical, because the BRI is a pivotal regional cooperation framework, which substantially influences economic dynamics and trade expansion across participating countries. We studied 47 countries from 2006 to 2021, and found a positive relationship between the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies and stock return synchronicity in BRI countries. We also explored monetary and fiscal policies and discovered that increased policy intensities correlate with higher synchronicity in BRI stock markets. Additionally, the benefit of macroeconomic policies was more pronounced in countries with closer trade ties and greater policy coordination with China. Further investigation showed that during periods of increased economic policy uncertainties within China and globally, the increase of stock return synchronicity is more pronounced.

Rainfall variability and welfare of agricultural households: Evidence from rural Niger

AbstractVariable weather continues to be the major source of vulnerability to chronic hunger and poverty in many developing countries due to the strong dependency of livelihood strategies on rainfed farming. Quantifying the effect of climatic parameters on agricultural households is, therefore, necessary to help policymakers understand the benefits of climate policies, improve the allocation of the scarce resources dedicated to adaptation and prioritize among adaptation strategies. This article investigates the empirical relationship between the welfare of rural households and rainfall variability in the semi‐arid tropics, using household panel data and high‐resolution remotely sensed rainfall data from Niger. We find that a standard deviation increase in rainfall variability is associated with a reduction of real food consumption by 11.13%. Results also indicate that a standard deviation increase in rainfall variability reduces expenditures for cereal‐based products, animal‐based products and processed foods by 11.96%, 21.31%, and 16.23%, respectively. Our results are consistent across a battery of robustness checks. Finally, we find geographical‐based differences in terms of the effect and that access to cereal banks cushions the negative effect of rainfall variability. Policy interventions aiming at improving the well‐being of rural households should therefore emphasize improving climate adaptation strategies.

Liberal Preoperative Fasting in Adults Undergoing Elective Surgery: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Prolonged fasting before surgery has negative effects on the physiology and psychology of patients. Preoperative liberal fasting proposes that patients can drink clear liquids before entering the operating theater, challenging the guideline strategy of a two-hour preoperative liquid fast for adults. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies on liberal preoperative fasting in adults. However, currently there is no consensus on the safe amount of fluid consumed, adverse effects, or benefits of this new policy. This scoping review protocol will map the existing evidence of liberal preoperative fasting in adults undergoing elective surgery for clinical practice, to summarize more scientific evidence to healthcare professionals when providing perioperative care. Methods and Analysis. The methodology will follow the six steps of the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework and be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review. A comprehensive search of six databases will be performed from their inception to 31 May 2023 to identify suitable English studies. Two trained investigators will independently screen and extract the data, and any disagreements will be judged by a third investigator. The results of the study will be presented as graphs or tables. Ethics and Dissemination. This scoping review only examines literature in the database, without reference to human or animal studies, and therefore does not require ethical approval. The findings of this scoping review will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at conferences. The Registration Number. This scoping review has been registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PMW7C).