Regulation of insurance markets

R Rees, H Gravelle, A Wambach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

There have been major changes in the way European insurance markets are regulated, and there is still considerable debate about what the form and scope of regulation should be. This article examines the arguments for solvency regulation when consumers are fully informed of the insurer's insolvency risk. It is shown firms always provide enough capital to ensure solvency, unless there are restrictions on the composition of their asset portfolios. The conclusion holds even when competition means that only normal profits can be earned. This suggests that the role of regulation in insurance markets should be confined to providing consumers with information about the default risk of insurers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-68
Number of pages14
JournalGENEVA PAPERS ON RISK AND INSURANCE THEORY
Volume24
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jun 1999

Keywords

  • insurance regulation
  • information
  • insolvency
  • PROPERTY-LIABILITY INSURANCE
  • CONTINGENT

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