scholarly journals Multiple Dimensions of Private Information in Life Insurance Markets

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Wu ◽  
Li Gan
Keyword(s):  
Life Insurance ◽  
Private Information ◽  
Insurance Markets ◽  
Multiple Dimensions

scholarly journals Asymmetric information in secondary insurance markets: Evidence from the life settlements market

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1143-1175
Author(s):  
Daniel Bauer ◽  
Jochen Russ ◽  
Nan Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Asymmetric Information ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Life Insurance ◽  
Private Information ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Insurance Markets ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Informational Asymmetry ◽  
Life Settlements ◽  
Near Term

We use data from a large US life expectancy provider to test for asymmetric information in the secondary life insurance—or life settlements—market. We compare realized lifetimes for a subsample of settled policies relative to all (settled and nonsettled) policies, and find a positive settlement‐survival correlation indicating the existence of informational asymmetry between policyholders and investors. Estimates of the “excess hazard” associated with settling show the effect is temporary and wears off over approximately 8 years. This indicates individuals in our sample possess private information with regards to their near‐term survival prospects and make use of it, which has economic consequences for this market and beyond.

Economies of scale in European life insurance

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo Klotzki ◽  
Alexander Bohnert ◽  
Nadine Gatzert ◽  
Ulrike Vogelgesang
Keyword(s):  
Life Insurance ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Insurance Markets ◽  
Fixed Effects Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Administrative Costs ◽  
Life Insurers ◽  
Acquisition Costs ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Due to the continuing low interest rate environment as well as the increase in acquisition costs, price transparency, cost transparency and competition with banks, the cost of life insurance becomes increasingly important for customers, insurers and shareholders. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to study the development of insurers’ economies of scale in regard to administrative costs for four of the largest European life insurance markets. Design/methodology/approach The analysis on economies of scale is based on a comprehensive set of 477 life insurers in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, yearly data between 2000 and 2014, and regression calculations that are based on 4,855 observations. Findings The results show that economies of scale exist for all considered markets and for most of the considered years. However, the extent of economies of scale varies considerably across countries. Originality/value Overall, the existing academic literature on costs and corresponding economies of scale in life insurance primarily deals with analyses of total costs instead of administrative costs, a single year or a single market. This paper contributes to the existing literature by conducting an analysis of recent market dynamics and economies of scale in regard to administrative costs for the period from 2000 and 2014 for four of the largest European life insurance markets for which the respective data were available (Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) and 477 life insurers in total. This is done by means of a log-log transformation of premiums and costs and a fixed effects model based on these transformed figures for 4,855 observations. In addition, for each market, the authors analyze the development of administrative costs for a total of 477 insurers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document