Total Factor Productivity Growth of Indian Life Insurance Companies: A Malmquist Approach

This study aimed to investigate the productivity growth of Indian life insurance companies using the Malmquist index. This study analyzed all the 24 life insurance companies' productivity performance in India from the financial year 2012-2013 to 2016-2017 using the Malmquist index based on the secondary data collected from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority's Annual Reports. Findings indicated that the total factor productivity (TFP) of the life insurance sector increased at an average of 27.6 percent during the study period. On average, this improvement was ascribed to an efficiency improvement of 5.5 percent and a technological improvement of 20.9 percent. The results also indicated that the private life insurers experienced higher productivity growth of 30.2 percent than the state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India's 17.2 percent. This is the first study that comprehensively analyzed the changes in total factor productivity of the Indian life insurance sector. The study holds important and practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and decision-makers.

ABSTRACT The purpose of study was to investigate the technical efficiency of Indian life insurance companies using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to find the reasons for inefficiency. It aimed to analyze the efficiency of all the 24 life insurance companies operating in India for the period 2013-2017 using DEA based on secondary data collected from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Annual Reports. Findings indicated that the state life insurer, that is, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) was efficient throughout the entire study period. The private life insurance companies exhibited variations in their performance levels as they were comparatively new in the life insurance sector and of different sizes. Some private life insurers operated efficiently, while some private life insurers were less productive using excessive capital; on the other hand, few life insurers grew fast using technology. The methodology employed in this study estimates relative efficiencies without assuming any functional form; as a result, the proper comparison of input utilized with the output produced was not possible. The study brought into light the operating characteristics and efficiencies of all the Indian life insurance companies during the period 2013-2017 and therefore holds important insights for policy makers and practitioners as well as for the decision makers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 59-80
Author(s):  
Ram Pratap Sinha

This study estimates Malmquist index of total factor productivity change of 14 major general insurers in India over the period 2009–10 to 2016–17 over 7 annual windows. The study decomposes total factor productivity index into its constituent components, using several approaches including Färe et al. (1989, Productivity Developments in Swedish Hospitals: A Malmquist Output Index Approach. Carbondale: Department of Economics, Southern Illinois University; 1992, Journal of Productivity Analysis 3(1): 85–101), Färe et al. (1994, American Economic Review 84(1): 66–83), Ray and Desli (1997, American Economic Review 87(5): 1033–39) and Wheelock and Wilson (1999, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking 31(2): 212–23). Furthermore, the study uses bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) method to obtain bias-corrected point and interval estimates of Malmquist index and its components. Finally, the study makes a comparison of productivity performance between public and private sector insurers. The results indicate a modest growth in total factor productivity during the period contributed mainly by efficiency changes. The private sector insurers performed better than the public sector in terms of productivity growth. The variations in productivity performance indicate that insurer scale of activity can affect their performance. JEL Classification: G-23, C-61, D-21


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashiq Mohd Ilyas ◽  
S. Rajasekaran

PurposeThis paper aims to measure the change and the sources of change in total factor productivity (TFP) of the Indian non-life insurance sector over the period 2005–2016.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs the bootstrapped Malmquist index (MI) to assess the changes in the TFP and adopts a decomposition approach proposed by Balk and Zofío (2018). Moreover, it utilises truncated regression to identify the determinants of the TFP. In addition, it employs Wilcoxon-W test and t-test to scrutinise the difference between the state-owned and the private insurers in terms of variations in TFP and its various components.FindingsThe results divulge a miniature improvement in TFP of the insurance sector, which is primarily attributable to the improvement in scale efficiency (economies of scale). The results also reveal that there are no significant TFP differences across the ownership. However, private insurers have better scale efficiency and lower input-mix efficiency than state-owned insurers. In addition, the results unveil that size, diversification and reinsurance have a negative impact on the TFP, while age has a positive impact on it.Practical implicationsThe results may help the policymakers to frame new consolidation policies. Moreover, the findings may guide the decision-makers of the Indian non-life insurance companies to abate inefficiency and improve TFP.Originality/valueThis study estimates bias-corrected changes in TFP and efficiency in the non-life insurance sector. Moreover, it adopts an elaborated decomposition of the MI to identify the true sources of change in the TFP.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santanu Mandal ◽  
Surajit Ghosh Dastidar

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the efficiency analysis of the Indian general insurance sector using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and subsequently assess the impact (if any) of the global slowdown on the performance of the allied sector. Design/methodology/approach – The paper aims to analyze the operating performance of 12 general insurance companies in India between 2006-2007 and 2009-2010 using DEA based on secondary data collected from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Annual Reports. Findings – Findings clearly indicate that the global economic slowdown has severely affected the performance of the private sector companies; while the public sector companies exhibited relatively lesser variation in performance levels. Research limitations/implications – The methodology employed in the study estimates relative efficiencies without assuming any functional form; as a result the proper comparison of input utilized with the output produced is not possible. Several other tools like Malmquist Index and two-stage procedure have not been used. Originality/value – The study brings into light the operating characteristics and efficiencies of the Indian general insurance sector during the global slowdown and therefore holds practical value for policy makers and practitioners as well as for the decision makers of the firms employed in the study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-50
Author(s):  
Zhe Sun

Based on the latest method of total factor productivity research at home and abroad, this paper uses the panel data of 17 Chinese life insurance companies from 2007 to 2016 to estimate the total factor productivity of Chinese insurance companies using the Malmquist index analysis method of DEA model. The measurement method is a regression analysis of several factors affecting the total factor productivity of Chinese insurance companies. The empirical results show that among the micro factors, the asset-liability ratio, asset turnover, operating efficiency and company size have a significant impact on the total factor growth rate of Chinese life insurance companies. Among the macro factors, GDP growth rate, inflation rate and unemployment rate have a significant impact on the total factor growth rate of Chinese life insurance companies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-150
Author(s):  
Uzma Noreen ◽  
Shabbir Ahmad

This study uses data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist index to examine the impact of financial sector reforms on the efficiency and productivity of Pakistan’s insurance sector over the period 2000–09. Our results indicate that the sector is cost-inefficient, with an average score of 58 percent – an outcome of the inappropriate use of inputs. The Malmquist productivity index performs better, indicating an improvement in total factor productivity of about 3 percent on average. The second-stage Tobit regression analysis shows that large firms are relatively inefficient from an allocative perspective as they are unable to equate the marginal product of inputs with their factor prices. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that private firms are more efficient than public firms in the nonlife insurance sector. The empirical findings suggest that a more competitive environment, diversified products and innovative technology could improve the productivity of insurance firms in Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
pp. 29-43
Author(s):  
Dr. Razu Ahmed

Purpose: The study strives to measure insurance companies’ financial soundness in Bangladesh with reference to private sector life insurance companies listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). Methods: CARAMELS ratio analysis and multiple discriminate analysis (MDA) have been employed to determine the results using secondary data sources collected from annual reports for ten-year DSE listed companies. Findings: The study identified a satisfactory capital adequacy ratio (CAR) with a decreasing trend. Reinsurance and actuarial ratio indicate that companies hardly participate in reinsurance. In most cases, all selected companies’ expense ratio during the study period is more than the standard (20 %) of the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA). All the selected insurance companies hold more liquid assets than the necessity. Z scores depicted that all the selected companies are potentially sick position in terms of financial health. Originality/Value: This study measured the financial soundness of life insurance companies in Bangladesh. No in-depth study was conducted in Bangladesh, particularly on measuring the financial soundness of life insurance companies.


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