scholarly journals Systemic Importance of Insurance Companies—An Empirical Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Anushri Bansal

Insurance companies are increasingly being regulated under the assumption that, like banks, they pose systemic risk to the overall economy and especially the financial system. This analysis investigates this premise by comparing the systemic importance of insurance companies and the insurance industry with that of banks, brokers, real estate firms, and their respective industries. Empirical results suggest that intra-industry linkages exist among insurance firms, although they are comparatively weaker than those in banking and real estate. Moreover, systemic risks arising from the effects of distress in other economic sectors are lower for insurance companies—although not negligible. Given its size, systemic problems arising over time from the insurance industry would have a very disruptive macroeconomic impact.

Risks ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiana Gómez ◽  
Jorge Ponce

This paper provides a rationale for the macro-prudential regulation of insurance companies, where capital requirements increase in their contribution to systemic risk. In the absence of systemic risk, the formal model in this paper predicts that optimal regulation may be implemented by capital regulation (similar to that observed in practice, e.g., Solvency II ) and by actuarially fair technical reserve. However, these instruments are not sufficient when insurance companies are exposed to systemic risk: prudential regulation should also add a systemic component to capital requirements that is non-decreasing in the firm’s exposure to systemic risk. Implementing the optimal policy implies separating insurance firms into two categories according to their exposure to systemic risk: those with relatively low exposure should be eligible for bailouts, while those with high exposure should not benefit from public support if a systemic event occurs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 53-64
Author(s):  
Omowumi Ayoni Momoh ◽  
Oyefemi Ismail O. Oyetunji

This study investigates the poor claims settlement and demand for insurance policies in Nigeria to provide empirical evidence which would assist not only the insurance companies but also the policymakers by using these findings to design future insurance services and policies that can be geared towards promoting insurance market development. The population focused in the study included few licensed insurance firms in Nigeria. This is due to the fact that they dominate and control the larger interest in the market share. Primary data was used for this study through well-structured questionnaire. Chi- squared statistics and correlation with the tabulated contingency table on the basis of an assumptions were employed. The results show that poor claim settlement has significant effect on demand for Insurance policies in Nigeria and that there is long term and significant relationship between poor claim settlement and demand for insurance policies in Nigeria. The study therefore, recommends that insurance industry should be redefined through appropriate Acts, introducing competitions and innovations in the services so as to compete effectively and meet consumer needs by dealing with changing expectations of policyholders so as to ensure that satisfaction of all the parties are guaranteed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-153
Author(s):  
Joseph Schembri

This study probes the MCAST insurance apprenticeship scheme and the impact of apprentices on the local insurance companies, acting as sponsors. This study is of particular relevance since the local insurance firms are experiencing growth but have the challenge of employee turnover and skills shortage. This research study investigates the work-based learning experience of students, the mentoring of apprentices and the supervising procedures adopted by MCAST and the insurance firms. The purpose is to analyse the impact of MCAST trainees on local insurance firms and depict practical recommendations to ameliorate the learning experience of the apprentices. The recommendations emanating from this study, assist MCAST to develop high-performance apprenticeship schemes and assist the local insurance industry, in the recruiting and training of young employees. This qualitative research gathers data through nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews and adopts the Grounded Theory Methodology to address the research problem and attain the stated objectives. The researcher adopts the constructivist approach incorporating an inductive and abductive stance. The findings emanating from the data illustrate the need to promote the insurance industry as a provider of stable and fulfilling careers with the possibility of job mobility. MCAST and the insurance firms need to enhance their collaboration to promote the insurance apprenticeship, among young learners, even at secondary level. An overhaul of the mentoring and supervising approach is needed to provide a work-based learning experience of excellence to MCAST apprentices. MCAST apprenticeship is considered by the insurance executives as the best training opportunity to recruit skilled workers and create networks. The scheme is cost effective to the firms and is considered as a long-term investment in human resources. A well-planned strategy to enhance collaboration and share knowledge between the leading VET provider of the Maltese Islands and the insurance industry is required for the benefit of the apprentices who are the future employees of the local insurance firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 566
Author(s):  
Kamanda Morara ◽  
Athenia Bongani Sibindi

The drivers of financial success of the insurance industry are of interest to several players in any economy including the government; policymakers; policyholders; and investors. In Kenya; there have been relatively few studies on this topic; most of which look at narrow elements that determine insurance companies’ performance. This article sought to explore the components contributing to the financial performance of insurance firms. We employed a sample consisting of 37 general insurers and 16 life insurers for the period running from 2009 to 2018 and utilised panel data methods in order to establish the determinants of financial performance of Kenyan insurers. The pooled OLS; fixed effects and random effects models were estimated with the financial performance measures (proxied by either ROA or ROE) as the dependent variables. The results of the study documented that insurer financial performance and size were positively related. The study also found that insurer financial performance was negatively related to the age variable. The study also unraveled that higher leveraged insurance companies performed better than their lowly geared peers. This article provides broad analyses of the various drivers of financial performance of the insurance industry in Kenya. The findings of this study contribute to the academic literature on the financial performance of the insurance sector in Kenya and Africa as a whole. Furthermore; it gives pointers to the management of insurance companies on the aspects of their business that would need greater attention to drive and sustain superior financial performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
Hussein Mohammad Salameh

Insurance firms are known to have unique financial failure characteristics that affect the financial environment of the countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the validity of the model used in predicting the financial failures of insurance companies. The model is believed to help in stabilizing the financial environment of the countries by predicting any collapses in the insurance sector. A discriminate regression technique was used to test 28 indicators chosen from 11 financial failure model parameters. 11 parameters of the model are the following: solvency, profitability, operational capabilities, structural soundness, capital expansion capacity, capital adequacy, reinsurance and actuarial issues, management soundness, capital expansion capacity, earnings and profitability, and liquidity. The results of the study proved that 22 variables from 11 parameters were significant; the study also validated the use of the financial failure model as a stable predictor of the financial failure of ASE insurance firms. The stability of the insurance industry is interpreted through the minimum deviation between the real and measured performances. The deviation was present in 3 out of 95 observations, and it affected only 3 firms out of 19, 1 firm out of 3 turned out to be affected by the risker deviation which is the type II error distorted observation. To conclude, the study by mentioning that insurance firms are not threatened by failure or distress and the financial failure model is a valid prediction model.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Roseline Njeri Iregi ◽  
Joshua Okeyo

Purpose: The Study sought to find the relationship between investment strategies and profitability in the insurance industry in KenyaMethodology: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design.This study used both primary data from the respondents of the research instruments and the secondary data available from the financial statements. The study took 50% of the population as the sample size. This yielded 22 insurance companies. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire that consisted of both open ended and close ended questions. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and results presented in frequency tables to show how the responses for the various questions posed to the respondents.Results: Results indicated that there is a positive and significant relationship between investment strategies and profitability, ROA and ROE of insurance companies. Specifically, it was revealed that passive strategies are more superior to active strategies as they enhance profitability. The results imply that insurance firms invest in local stocks, international equity, cash equivalents, bonds and investment in associates and subsidiaries in an effort to diversify.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that insurance firms should continue investing in local stocks, international equity, cash equivalents, bonds and investment in associates and subsidiaries in an effort to diversify their portfolio. It is also recommended that insurance firms should reduce their holdings in real estate to safeguard their liquidity. The study recommends that insurance firms should use passive strategies as opposed to active strategies as this would enhance their profitability. Passive strategies are less costly compared to the active strategies. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
G M Wali Ullah ◽  
Mohammad Nasrath Faisal ◽  
Sadaqa Tuz Zuhra

Insurance is a form of risk management, used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. It involves the transfer of the risk of potential loss from one entity to another, in exchange for a risk premium. Insurance sector plays an important role in service based economy of both developed and developing markets. The purpose of this research is to analyze the determinants that serve as significant predictors of non-life insurance firms’ profitability in Bangladesh. It analyzes panel data of eight different insurance companies—selected using convenience sampling method from the years 2004-2014 to assess whether any significant relationship exists between Profitability (ROA), and certain independent variables- Underwriting Risk, Expense Ratio, Solvency Margin, Premium Growth, Asset Growth, and Company Size using an Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model. This paper found significant inverse relationship between Underwriting Risk, and Size, with Profitability (ROA). There is also a significant positive relationship between Expense Ratio, Solvency Margin, and Growth, with the Profitability (ROA). This study will help financial managers to understand which internal factors to focus on, in order to achieve greater profitability, thus maximizing the market value of the respective insurance company.


2018 ◽  
Vol III (I) ◽  
pp. 234-252
Author(s):  
Muhammad Jam e Kausar Ali Asghar ◽  
Abdul Zahid Khan ◽  
Hafiz Ghufran Ali Khan

This study is conducted in two steps. Firstly, Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) is applied to estimate efficiency of the Takaful and conventional insurance firms in Pakistan from 2005 to 2010. It is found that life insurers are performing poor in comparison to general insurers. In addition, Takaful firms are found less cost efficient in comparison to conventional insurance firms. Secondly, the Tobit results imply that the size, investment and claim are found negatively related with the efficiency of insurance companies which suggests that larger size raise the cost of doing business whereas, due to financial crises the investment of large firms are also dropped. Moreover, improvement in minimum capital requirement is found fruit full both for cost and profit efficiencies. Therefore, it is suggested that the regulators should keep continue this policy to further improve financial health of the insurance industry.


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