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The Demand for Insurance and Rationale for a Mandate: Evidence from Workers’ Compensation Insurance

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Listed:
  • Marika Cabral
  • Can Cui
  • Michael Dworsky

Abstract

This paper analyzes the demand for insurance and the potential rationale for coverage mandates in the context of workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is a state-regulated insurance program that provides employers with liability protection and employees with defined income and medical benefits in the event of work-related injuries or illnesses. Nearly all states have mandated workers’ compensation insurance coverage; the sole exception is Texas. Using administrative data from the unique voluntary Texas workers’ compensation insurance system, we estimate the demand for workers’ compensation insurance leveraging idiosyncratic regulatory updates to relative premiums across industry-occupation classifications. The difference-in-differences estimates indicate that the demand for workers’ compensation coverage is price-sensitive, with a 1% increase in premiums leading to approximately a 0.3% decline in coverage. Drawing upon these estimates and additional data on costs, we analyze potential justifications for government intervention to increase coverage through subsidies or a mandate. This analysis suggests that some common market failure justifications for government intervention in insurance markets—adverse selection, market power, and externalities—may not be compelling justifications for a mandate in this setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Marika Cabral & Can Cui & Michael Dworsky, 2019. "The Demand for Insurance and Rationale for a Mandate: Evidence from Workers’ Compensation Insurance," NBER Working Papers 26103, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:26103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Stefan Pichler & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2020. "Mandated Sick Pay: Coverage, Utilization, and Welfare Effects," NBER Working Papers 26832, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Koning, Pierre & van Lent, Max, 2022. "Workers' Moral Hazard and Insurer Effort in Disability Insurance," IZA Discussion Papers 15164, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Marika Cabral & Marcus Dillender, 2020. "The Impact of Benefit Generosity on Workers’ Compensation Claims: Evidence and Implications," NBER Working Papers 26976, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Nathaniel Hendren & Camille Landais & Johannes Spinnewijn, 2021. "Choice in Insurance Markets: A Pigouvian Approach to Social Insurance Design," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 13(1), pages 457-486, August.
    5. Stefan Pichler & Katherine Wen & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2021. "Positive Health Externalities of Mandating Paid Sick Leave," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 715-743, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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