Determinants of Micro-Insurance Ownership Decision: Empirical Evidence from Informal Commercial Market Business Operators in Ghana

  • Augustine Kwadwo Yeboah Ghana Baptist University College, PMB, Kumasi-Ghana
Keywords: Risk; Micro-insurance; Commercial Business Operators; Probit; Ghana

Abstract

This study empirically examines determinants of Micro-insurance ownership decision in Ghana. Probit estimation technique was used to examine data sourced from 612 informal commercial business operators in selected urban market centers in Ghana. The results reveal that financial literacy has significant effect on micro-insurance ownership decision among informal commercial market business operators in Ghana. The study also found income, access to credit, trust, market levy, Marital status and household headship status as other major predictors of micro-insurance ownership decision. Premised on these, the study recommends financial literacy education intervention by micro-insurance providers to increase microinsurance patronage. Micro-insurance providers should invest in building reputation to encourage participation in micro-insurance scheme. Also, efforts of government should focus on improving access to credit facilities and income generation prospects among informal businesses operators in Ghana. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ackah, C., & Adobea, O. (2012). Assessing the knowledge and attitude towards insurance in Ghana. Retrieved from http://www.utwente.nl/.../2012/microinsurance. Adjei, J., Arun, T., & Hossain, F. (2009). Asset building and poverty reduction in Ghana: The case of microfinance. Savings and Development, 33(3), 265-291. Akotey, O., & Adjasi, C. (2014). The impact of Micro-insurance on household asset accumulation in Ghana: An asset index approach. The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance-Issues and Practice, 39(2), 304-321. Akotey, O., Osei, K., & Gemegah, A. (2011). The demand for micro-insurance in Ghana. The Journal of Risk Finance, 12(3), 182-194. Akter, S. (2012). The role of microinsurance as a safety net against environmental risk in Bangladesh. Journal of Environment and Development, 21(2), 263- 280. Annim, S., & Alnaa, S. (2013). Access to microfinance by rural women: Implications for poverty reduction in Rural Households in Ghana. Research in Applied Economics, 5(2), 19-41. Arun, T., & Bendig, M. (2010). Risk management among the poor: The case of microfinancial services. University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom: Brooks World Poverty Institute. (IZA DP No. 5174). Baah-Ennumh, T., & Adom-Asamoah, G. (2012). The role of market women in the informal market economy in Kumasi. Journal of Science and Technology, 32(2), 56-67. Bateman. (2010). Why doesn’t microfinance work? The destructive rise of Local Neoliberalism. London: Zed Books. Bendig, M., & Giesbert, L. S. (2011). Microfinancial services and risk management: Evidences from Sri Lanka. Journal of Economic Development, 36(4), 97-126. Boateng, D., & Awunyor-Vitor, D. (2013). Health insurance in Ghana: Evaluation of policy holders’ perceptions and factors influencing policy renewal in the Volta Region. International Journal for Equity in Health, 12(50), 1-10. Browne, M., & Hoyt, R. (2000). The Demand for flood insurance: Empirical evidence. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 20(3), 291-306. Chowdbury, T., Rahman, M., & Afza, S. (2007). Perceptions of the customers towards insurance companies in Bangladesh: A study based on the Survqual Model. BRAC University Journal, 4(2), 55-66. Cole, S., Sampson, T., & Zia, B. (2009). Financial Literacy, financial decisions and the demand for financial services: Evidence from India and Indonesia (HBS Working Paper No. 09-119). Harvard, United States of America: World Bank Finance Seminar on Financial Literacy and Consumer Protection. Crayen, D., Hainz, C., & Stoh de Martinez, C. (2013). Remittances, banking status and the usage of insurance schemes. The Journal of Development Studies, 49(6), 861-875. Curak, M., Dzaja, I., & Pepur, S. (2013). The effect of social and demographic factors on Life insurance demand in Croatia. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(9), 65-72. Dulleck, U., & Kerschbamer, R. (2006). On doctors, mechanics, and computer specialits: The economics of credence goods. Journal of Economic Literature, 44, 5-42. Fafchamps, M. (2010). Vulnerability, risk management and agricultural development. The African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 243- 260. Fletschner, D., & Kenney, L. (2011). Rural women’s access to financial services: Credit, savings and insurance. World Development, 37(3), 618-631. Fofie, G. (2016). What influence customer patronage of insurance policies: An empirical assessment of socioeconomic and demographic determinants of insurance patronage in Ghana. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(1), 81-88. Gaurav, S., Cole, S., & Tobacman, J. (2011). Marketing complex financial products in emerging markets: Evidence from rainfall insurance in India. Journal of Marketing Research, 48, 150-162. Gautam, V., & Kumar, M. (2012). A Study on attitudes of Indian consumers towards insurance services. Management Research and Practice, 4(1), 51-62. Guha-Khasnobis & Ahuja. (2004). Extending formal insurance to the informal economy workers in India. Paper presented at EIGD and UNU-WIDER conference. Helsinki. Gurley & Shaw. (1967). Financial structure and economic development. Economic Development and Cultural Change,15(3), 257-268. Hassan, M., Sanchez, B., & Yu, S. (2011). Financial Development and Economic Growth. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 51, 88-104.
Hoefer, R., & Midgley, J. (2012). Poverty, incomes and social protection: International Policy Perspectives. Journal of Policy Practice 11, 1-7. Holzmann, Sherbune & Tesliuc. (2003). Social risk management: The World Bank’s approach to social protection in a globalizing world. Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/sp IFAD. (2004). Investing in Microfinance. Retrieved from Investing in Microfinance: http://www.ifad.org/events/ Ito, S., & Kono, H. (2010). Why is the take‐up of micro-insurance so low? Evidence from a health insurance scheme in India. The Developing Economies, 48(1), 74-101. Janzen & Carter. (2013). The Impact of Microinsurance on Consumption Smoothing and Asset Protection: Evidence from a Drought in Kenya. Paper prepared for Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s Joint Annual Meeting in Washington DC, Au. Washington DC. Khan, A. A. (2008). Islamic microfinance: Theory, policy and practice. Retrieved from http://www.islamicrelief.com Kishor. (2013). Micro Insurance in India: Protecting the Poor. Journal of Business Management and Social Sciences Research, 2(3), 39-44. Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. (2007). Financial literacy and retirement preparedness: Evidence and implications for financial education. Business Economics, 42(1). Business Economics, 42(1), 35-44. Mckinnon & Goldsmith. (1973). Money and capital in economic development. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press. Moore, D. (2003). Survey of financial literacy in Washington State: Knowledge, behaviour, attitude and experiences. Washington State, United States of America: Washington State Department of Financial Instructions. (SESRC Technical Report No. 03-09). Morelli, E., Onnis, G. A., Ammann, W. J., & Sutter, C. (2010). Microinsurance. An innovative tool for risk and disaster management. Global risk forum. Davos. Mukhtar, S. (2013). Insuring the insurable for poverty alleviation in Nigeria: What Micro- insurance can do? Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 375-380. National Insurance Commission. (2010). Annual Report 2010. Accra: National Insurance Commission. Negi, D., & Singh, P. (2012). Demographic analysis of factors Influencing purchase of life insurance product in India. European Journal of Business and Management, 4(7), 169-180. Parvathi, G. (2012). Micro-insurance in India. International Journal of Research in Management, Economics and Commerce, 2(11), 268-273. Stango, V., & Zinman, J. (2006). Fuzzy Math and Red Ink: Payment/Interest Bias, Intertemporal Choice and wealth accumulation. Hanover: NH: Dartmouth College. Tabea, G. (2010). Does micro-insurance improve social inclusion? Overview over empirical evidence. Retrieved from http://www.fflch.usp.br/centrodametropole//upload.pdf Veron, R., & Majumdar, A. (2011). Micro-insurance through Corporate-NGO Partnerships in West Bengal: Opportunities and constraints. Development in Practice 21(1), 122-129. World Bank. (2009). The Case for financial literacy in developing countries: Promoting access to finance by empowering consumers. Washington DC. Retrieved from http://www.mfw4a.org Yusuf, T. O., Gbadamosi, A., & Hamadu, D. (2009). Attitudes of Nigerians towards insurance services: An Empirical Study. African Journal of Accounting, Economics, Finance & Banking Research (4), 34-46.
Published
2018-02-24
How to Cite
Yeboah, A. K. (2018). Determinants of Micro-Insurance Ownership Decision: Empirical Evidence from Informal Commercial Market Business Operators in Ghana. Journal of Social and Development Sciences, 8(4), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.22610/jsds.v8i4.2059
Section
Research Paper