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Adverse Selection in Crop Insurance: Actuarial and Asymmetric Information Incentives

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  • Richard E. Just
  • Linda Calvin
  • John Quiggin

Abstract

Adverse selection is often blamed for crop insurance indemnities exceeding premiums plus subsidies. However, nationwide empirical evidence has been lacking or based on inadequate county-level data. This article uses nationwide farm-level data on corn and soybeans to decompose incentives for participation in U.S. multiple peril crop insurance into a risk-aversion incentive (the conventional justification for insurance), an actuarial or subsidy incentive (reflecting government subsidization), and an asymmetric information incentive (which reflects farmers' information advantage). Results show that the risk-aversion incentive is small. Farmers participate in crop insurance primarily to receive the subsidy or because of adverse selection possibilities. Copyright 1999, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard E. Just & Linda Calvin & John Quiggin, 1999. "Adverse Selection in Crop Insurance: Actuarial and Asymmetric Information Incentives," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 81(4), pages 834-849.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ajagec:v:81:y:1999:i:4:p:834-849
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