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Optimal investment and reinsurance policies for an insurer with ambiguity aversion

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  • Liu, Bing
  • Meng, Hui
  • Zhou, Ming

Abstract

In this paper, we study the optimal investment and reinsurance problem for an insurer based on the variance premium principle, in which three cases are considered. First, we assume that the financial market does not exist. The insurer only holds an insurance business, and the optimal reinsurance problem is studied. Subsequently, we assume that there exists a financial market with an accurately modeled risky asset. The optimal investment and reinsurance problem is investigated under these conditions. Finally, we consider the general case in which the insurer is concerned about the model ambiguity of both the insurance market and the financial market. In all three cases, the value function is set to maximize the expected utility of terminal wealth. By employing the dynamic programming principle, we derive the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equations, which are satisfied by the value functions and obtain closed-form solutions for optimal reinsurance and investment policies and the value functions in all three cases. Most interestingly, we elucidate how investment improves the insurer’s utility and find that the existence of ambiguity can significantly affect the optimal policies and value functions. We also compare the ambiguities in the two markets and find that ambiguity in the insurance market has much more significant impact on the value function than the ambiguity in the financial market. It implies that it is more valuable for insurer to precisely evaluate the insurance risk. We also provide some numerical examples and economic explanations to illustrate our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Bing & Meng, Hui & Zhou, Ming, 2021. "Optimal investment and reinsurance policies for an insurer with ambiguity aversion," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:55:y:2021:i:c:s1062940820301923
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2020.101303
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ning Bin & Huainian Zhu & Chengke Zhang, 2023. "Stochastic Differential Games on Optimal Investment and Reinsurance Strategy with Delay Under the CEV Model," Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1-27, June.
    3. Guan, Guohui & Hu, Xiang, 2022. "Equilibrium mean–variance reinsurance and investment strategies for a general insurance company under smooth ambiguity," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    4. Weiwei Shen & Juliang Yin, 2022. "Optimal Investment and Risk Control Strategies for an Insurer Subject to a Stochastic Economic Factor in a Lévy Market," Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 2913-2931, December.

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