Evaluating Rainfall Risk Profile of Indian Subcontinent Based on Index Metrics

Floods and droughts represent an embedded monsoon factor impacting the Indian economy. Evaluating monsoon risk based on rainfall index metrics could help design appropriate alternative risk transfer products. This study proposes a new set of rainfall indices that can be used to explore the excess rainfall risk profile of the Indian Subcontinent. The study proposed a new set of indices for evaluating excess rainfall risk profiles which are defined as Excess Rainfall Days (ERDs). The methodology proceeds in a step-wise form: Empirical values of ERDs over 50 years for selected MSDs of India are derived, and then these index values are analyzed for determining the degree of variability and volatility, followed by the examination of the degree of inter-correlation amongst indices of selected Meteorological Sub-divisions. The research is based on the applications of econometric models such as the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test followed by the GARCH model. The results revealed that several of the statistical properties of ERD indices support the idea that these indices could be used as building blocks for designing rainfall derivatives similar to HDDs/CDDs underlying temperature derivatives.

Firm Value and Self-Insurance

This article explores whether the alternative risk-transfer technique in the form of self-insurance can add value to the manufacturers that have self-insured for workers' compensation (WC) losses. The authors focus on publicly-owned manufacturers with at least 1,000 employees in California over the period 1970–2015 to examine the value implications of self-insurance adoption. This study employs a treatment-effects model to simultaneously estimate the determinants of self-insurance and the effect of self-insurance on firm value. The authors find that the relationship between firm value and self-insurance is time dependent. Risk preference for self-insurance reflects in higher market valuation among manufacturers over the periods of 1970–1983 and 1986–1999. These results suggest that self-insurance has a positive impact on firm value in the 1970s through the 1990s except for the liability crisis years 1984–1985. However, the benefits of self-insurance fail to materialize for self-insured manufacturers in the 2000s.

A comparative study of the application of alternative risk transfer methods of insurance in South Africa and Zimbabwe

Alternative risk transfer techniques represent the crown jewels in the risk management arena. This non-traditional method of insurance has gained prominence over the last few decades. Against this backdrop, the present study seeks to unravel the development of the alternative risk financing insurance segment within a developing country setting. The study specifically sets out to compare and contrast the ART insurance market segments of South Africa and Zimbabwe. The study is documents that the Zimbabwean market is at a nascent stage of development, whilst the South African market is fully developed. Notwithstanding the prospects for the development of this sector looks bright.

The art of alternative risk transfer methods of insurance

The very basis of insurance is risk assumption. Hence it is the business of insurance to give risk protection. The notion that all ‘risk is risk’ and hence should be treated as such, has become the driving force on the risk landscape. Insurance companies have no room to be selective, as there are competitive threats posed by other financial players who are waiting on the wings to invade the market segment. There has been an emergence of new risks, such as cyber, terrorism as well as liability risks. The insurance cycles have made traditional insurance cover expensive. In this article we sought to interrogate whether Alternative Risk Transfer techniques represent a cost effective way of balancing insurability and the bottom line by analysing global trends. On the basis of the research findings it can be concluded that indeed the ART solutions are a must buy for both corporates and insurance companies, as they result in the organisation using them achieving financial efficiency. The present study also demonstrates that there is a paradigm shift in insurance from that of indemnity to that of value enhancement. Lastly the study reveals that ART solutions are here to stay and are not a fad. Insurance companies cannot afford the luxury of missing any further opportunities, such as happened with Y2K, which proved to be a free lunch