SOCIAL INSURANCE AND HOUSEHOLD INEQUALITY IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
Inequality without protection becomes institutionalized vulnerability. Despite Anambra State’s being renowned for its commercial vitality, a significant and widening household inequality persists beneath its economic dynamism. This study investigates how social insurance impacts household inequality within the state, focusing on the disparities in health insurance access and income across rural areas. Adopting a descriptive survey design, primary data were collected from 169 households across six purposively selected Local Government Areas in the three senatorial zones of the state. The analysis, which utilized both descriptive and inferential statistics (including t-tests at a 5% significance level), demonstrates a robust positive correlation between household earnings and the ability to participate in social health insurance. These results indicate that wealthier households are better equipped to afford coverage, whereas lower-income families are largely left behind. Key factors identified as driving this income gap include heavy tax burdens, unemployment, systemic corruption, large family sizes, gender disparities, educational levels, and access to technology. The findings suggest that rather than bridging the divide, current social insurance models in Anambra State actually deepen inequality because of the lack of coverage in the informal economy. The findings also reveal a strong positive relationship between household income and participation in social health insurance, indicating that higher-income households are significantly better positioned to secure insurance coverage, while low-income households remain excluded. Ultimately, the study concludes that to achieve balanced development and reduce household disparity, the state must broaden inclusive health insurance models, improve rural social services, and adopt social protection policies that effectively redistribute resources.
JEL: D31, D63, I38, H55, O15
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v10i3.2194
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