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Catastrophic Losses and Insurer Profitability: Evidence From 9/11

Author

Listed:
  • Xuanjuan Chen
  • Helen Doerpinghaus
  • Bing‐Xuan Lin
  • Tong Yu

Abstract

We examine the effects of 9/11 on the insurance industry, hypothesizing a short‐run claim effect, resulting from insufficient premium ex ante for catastrophic losses, and a long‐run growth effect, resulting from ex post insurance supply reductions and risk updating. Following Yoon and Starks (1995) we use short‐ and long‐run abnormal forecast revisions to measure both effects, analyzing them as a function of firm‐specific characteristics. We find that firm type, loss estimates, reinsurance use, and tax position are important determinants of the short‐run position. Firm type, loss estimates, financial strength, underwriting risk, and reinsurance are key determinants of the firm's long‐run position.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuanjuan Chen & Helen Doerpinghaus & Bing‐Xuan Lin & Tong Yu, 2008. "Catastrophic Losses and Insurer Profitability: Evidence From 9/11," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 75(1), pages 39-62, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:75:y:2008:i:1:p:39-62
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2007.00247.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth A. Froot, 1999. "The Financing of Catastrophe Risk," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number froo99-1, January.
    2. Froot, Kenneth A. (ed.), 1999. "The Financing of Catastrophe Risk," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226266237, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tobias Götze & Marc Gürtler, 2022. "Risk transfer beyond reinsurance: the added value of CAT bonds," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 47(1), pages 125-171, January.
    2. Milidonis, Andreas, 2013. "Compensation incentives of credit rating agencies and predictability of changes in bond ratings and financial strength ratings," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3716-3732.
    3. Zhao, Yang & Yu, Min-Teh, 2019. "Measuring the liquidity impact on catastrophe bond spreads," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 197-210.
    4. Chen Yueyun & Hamwi Iskandar S., 2012. "Why Some Disaster Insurance Does not Exist," Asia-Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance, De Gruyter, vol. 6(1), pages 1-16, February.
    5. Chen, Yangyang & Hu, Gang & Yu, Danlei Bonnie & Zhao, Jingran, 2019. "Catastrophic risk and institutional investors: Evidence from institutional trading around 9/11," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 211-233.
    6. Ning Wang & Yiling Deng, 2016. "Market responses to loss shocks and insurers' post-catastrophe performance in the US property-casualty insurance market," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 231-246.
    7. Götze, Tobias & Gürtler, Marc, 2020. "Risk transfer and moral hazard: An examination on the market for insurance-linked securities," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 758-777.
    8. António Miguel Martins & Pedro Correia & Ricardo Gouveia, 2024. "The impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on the world’s largest listed insurance firms," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 49(4), pages 779-803, October.
    9. Bjoern Hagendorff & Jens Hagendorff & Kevin Keasey, 2015. "The Impact of Mega‐Catastrophes on Insurers: An Exposure‐Based Analysis of the U.S. Homeowners’ Insurance Market," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(1), pages 157-173, January.
    10. Patricia H. Born & Barbara Klimaszewski-Blettner, 2013. "Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Impact of Natural Disasters and Regulation on U.S. Property Insurers’ Supply Decisions," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 80(1), pages 1-36, March.
    11. Atsushi Takao & Takuya Yoshizawa & Shuofen Hsu & Takashi Yamasaki, 2011. "The Effect of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the Stock Prices of Non-Life Insurance Companies," Discussion Papers 2011-46, Kobe University, Graduate School of Business Administration.
    12. Jassem Alokla & Panagiotis Tzouvanas & Khaldoon Albitar, 2025. "Does Climate Change Risk Impact Insurance Credit Risk? Cross Country Evidence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(5), pages 5401-5418, July.
    13. Martins, António Miguel & Moutinho, Nuno, 2025. "Stock-Term market impact of major cyber-attacks: Evidence for the ten most exposed insurance firms to cyber risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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