Do Microfinance Programs Help Families Insure Consumption Against Illness?

Paul Gertler, David Levine () and Enrico Moretti
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Paul Gertler: University of Caifornia, Berkeley and NBER

No 1045, Center for International and Development Economics Research, Working Paper Series from Center for International and Development Economics Research, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley

Abstract: Families in developing countries face enormous financial risks from major illness both in terms of the cost of medical care and the loss in income associated with reduced labor supply and productivity. We test whether access to microfinancial savings and lending institutions helps Indonesian families smooth consumption after declines in adult health. In general, results support the importance of these institutions in helping families to self-insure consumption against health shocks.

Keywords: consumption smoothing; lifecycle hypothesis; Indonesia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-hea and nep-mfd
Date: 2003-02-05
Note: oai:cdlib1:iber/cider-1045
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Working Paper: Do Microfinance Programs Help Families Insure Consumption Against Illness? (2003)
Journal Article: Do microfinance programs help families insure consumption against illness? (2009)
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