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Life Insurance Company Risk Exposure: Market Evidence And Policy Implications

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  • ELIJAH BREWER III
  • THOMAS H. MONDSCHEAN

Abstract

Life insurance company (LIC) risk exposure increased during the 1980s while capital ratios declined. State guarantee funds that exist to handle policyholder's losses in the event of LIC failure can create incentives for excessive risk taking, just as the federal deposit insurance system did for savings and loan associations. This paper examines the relationship between stock market risk and LIC risk exposure. A sample of 44 LICs revealed that stock market risk is positively related to financial leverage as well as to differences in asset mix. This finding confirms that market data can help identify LICs with greater risk exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Elijah Brewer Iii & Thomas H. Mondschean, 1993. "Life Insurance Company Risk Exposure: Market Evidence And Policy Implications," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 11(4), pages 56-69, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:11:y:1993:i:4:p:56-69
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7287.1993.tb00401.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elijah Brewer & Thomas H. Mondschean, 1993. "Junk bond holdings, premium tax offsets, and risk exposure at life insurance companies," Working Paper Series, Issues in Financial Regulation 93-3, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    2. Brickley, James A. & James, Christopher M., 1986. "Access to deposit insurance, insolvency rules and the stock returns of financial institutions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 345-371, July.
    3. Richard W. Kopcke & Richard E. Randall, 1991. "The financial condition and regulation of insurance companies: an overview," Conference Series ; [Proceedings], Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, vol. 35, pages 1-18.
    4. Brewer, Elijah III, 1989. "Relationship between bank holding company risk and nonbank activity," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 337-353, November.
    5. James R. Barth & Philip F. Bartholomew & Carol J. Labich, 1989. "Moral hazard and the thrift crisis: an analysis of 1988 resolution," Proceedings 246, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    6. Wall, Larry D., 1987. "Has bank holding companies' diversification affected their risk of failure?," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 313-326, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elijah Brewer III & Thomas H. Mondschean & Philip Strahan, 1996. "The Role of Monitoring in Reducing the Moral Hazard Problem Associated with Government Guarantees: Evidence from the Life Insurance Industry," Center for Financial Institutions Working Papers 96-15, Wharton School Center for Financial Institutions, University of Pennsylvania.
    2. Eugene N. White, 1998. "The Legacy of Deposit Insurance: The Growth, Spread, and Cost of Insuring Financial Intermediaries," NBER Chapters, in: The Defining Moment: The Great Depression and the American Economy in the Twentieth Century, pages 87-121, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Lim, Terence & Lo, Andrew W. & Merton, Robert C. & Scholes, Myron S., 2006. "The Derivatives Sourcebook," Foundations and Trends(R) in Finance, now publishers, vol. 1(5–6), pages 365-572, April.

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