Health and Financial Literacy: Does the socioeconomic status of the city affect the volume of requests for municipal tax discounts?

Source abstract

This study examines the correlation between municipal tax discount applications and the socio-economic status (SES) of 28 settlements in northern Israel, utilizing household data from 2011 to 2023. Employing quadratic regression to allow for non-linear relationships, the findings indicate that in settlements with low to medium SES rankings (3-5), municipalities should enhance support and education to improve residents' medical and financial literacy, addressing the underutilization of available benefits. However, these municipalities often face resource constraints that limit their capacity to assist. In contrast, higher SES settlements benefit from residents' increased literacy, facilitating successful applications. The study suggests government intervention, such as engaging student volunteers, to bolster medical literacy and support in lower SES areas, ensuring broader access to rights and services.