What question did this study set out to answer?

To understand the reasons behind low social insurance enrollment among informal workers in Thailand.

February 6, 2026

Willingness-To-Pay versus Administrative Hurdles: Understanding Barriers to Social Insurance Enrollment in Thailand

Key Points

To understand the reasons behind low social insurance enrollment among informal workers in Thailand.
Analyzed the effects of a policy offering incentives for enrollment.
Measured changes in insurance coverage over a two-month period.
Ranged across enrollment tiers to assess valuations of insurance.
Insurance coverage increased by 67 percentage points within two months.
Initial enrollment was 73 percent, but dropped to 13 percent after 12 months.
Findings suggest low valuation of insurance contributes more to low enrollment than administrative hurdles.

Abstract

Abstract Many social insurance programs have low take-up, but it is unclear whether this is due to administrative barriers, information, or low insurance valuations. We study a Thai policy that offered large incentives for informal workers in selected provinces to enroll. The incentives increased insurance coverage by 67 percentage points- from 6 percent of informal workers to 73 percent- within two months. However, 12 months later, only 13 percent remained insured. Using choices among insurance tiers to back out revealed valuations, we find that low social insurance enrollment may be due to low ex-ante valuations of insurance, rather than administrative barriers.

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Willingness-To-Pay versus Administrative Hurdles: Understanding Barriers to Social Insurance Enrollment in Thailand

Key Points

Abstract

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