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The Impact of Social Health Insurance on Student Performance: Evidence From an RDD in Peru

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  • Miguel Angel Carpio
  • Lucero Gomez
  • Pablo Lavado

Abstract

The literature on the effects of social health insurance focuses on its stated goals, which are health status and financial protection. In contrast, we examine the effect of the Peruvian program on student performance using a sharp RDD. We use a unique individual‐level database built from the merger of household survey data and standardized test scores from a national census. We find that social health insurance has large effects on mathematics and reading comprehension scores. The clearest mechanism is a lower incidence of anemia among children and family members.

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  • Miguel Angel Carpio & Lucero Gomez & Pablo Lavado, 2025. "The Impact of Social Health Insurance on Student Performance: Evidence From an RDD in Peru," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(7), pages 1309-1325, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:34:y:2025:i:7:p:1309-1325
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4961
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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