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The Effects of Regulated Premium Subsidies on Insurance Costs: An Empirical Analysis of Automobile Insurance

Author

Listed:
  • Mary A. Weiss
  • Sharon Tennyson
  • Laureen Regan

Abstract

State regulation of rates is sometimes used as a means to make automobile insurance more affordable to consumers by restricting insurer profits and pricing practices. Incentive distortions arising from this type of rate regulation might lead to higher accident rates and higher insurance loss costs. Annual state‐level panel data for the time period 1980–1998 are used to investigate these effects, using empirical methods that recognize the endogenous determination of states’ regulatory choices. Results suggest that rate regulation that systematically suppresses (some or all) drivers’ insurance premiums is associated with significantly higher average loss costs and higher insurance claim frequency.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary A. Weiss & Sharon Tennyson & Laureen Regan, 2010. "The Effects of Regulated Premium Subsidies on Insurance Costs: An Empirical Analysis of Automobile Insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 77(3), pages 597-624, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:77:y:2010:i:3:p:597-624
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2010.01360.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Georges Dionne & Kili C. Wang, 2011. "Does Opportunistic Fraud in Automobile theft Insurance Fluctuate with the Business Cycle ?," Cahiers de recherche 1121, CIRPEE.
    6. Martin Eling & David Pankoke, 2016. "Costs and Benefits of Financial Regulation: An Empirical Assessment for Insurance Companies," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 41(4), pages 529-554, October.
    7. Dionne, Georges & Michaud, Pierre-Carl & Pinquet, Jean, 2013. "A review of recent theoretical and empirical analyses of asymmetric information in road safety and automobile insurance," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 85-97.
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    9. Sharon Tennyson, 2010. "Incentive Effects of Community Rating in Insurance Markets: Evidence from Massachusetts Automobile Insurance," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 35(1), pages 19-46, June.
    10. Georges Dionne & Kili Wang, 2013. "Does insurance fraud in automobile theft insurance fluctuate with the business cycle?," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 67-92, August.
    11. Patricia Born & J. Bradley Karl & Charles Nyce, 2024. "Availability of the seat belt defense: Implications for auto liability insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 91(1), pages 193-212, March.
    12. James M. Carson & Kathleen A. McCullough & David M. Pooser, 2013. "Deciding Whether to Invest in Mitigation Measures: Evidence From Florida," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 80(2), pages 309-327, June.
    13. Kylie A. Braegelmann & Jörg Schiller, 2025. "Lowering acquisition costs with a commission cap? Evidence from the German private health insurance market," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 50(2), pages 168-204, September.
    14. Yarmukhamedov, Sherzod, 2013. "Empirical analysis of moral hazard: a study of a vehicle insurance tax reform," Working papers in Transport Economics 2013:14, CTS - Centre for Transport Studies Stockholm (KTH and VTI).
    15. Biener, Christian & Eling, Martin & Schmit, Joan T., 2014. "Regulation in Microinsurance Markets: Principles, Practice, and Directions for Future Development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 21-40.
    16. Wang, Xuanhe & Wu, Huiyan & Meng, Shengwang & Liu, Kui & Chen, Hanyi, 2025. "Deregulation, claims ratio, and consumer surplus: Evidence from China's auto insurance reform," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    17. Sharon Tennyson, 2010. "Rethinking Consumer Protection Regulation in Insurance Markets," NFI Policy Briefs 2010-PB-07, Indiana State University, Scott College of Business, Networks Financial Institute.
    18. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Lin, Chun-Wei, 2016. "Globalization, political institutions, financial liberalization, and performance of the insurance industry," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 244-266.
    19. Dominique-Ferreira, Sérgio, 2017. "How important is the strategic order of product attribute presentation in the non-life insurance market?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 138-144.
    20. Thomas Dudek & Eric R. Ulm & Ilan Noy, 2021. "Demand for Multi-Year Catastrophe Insurance Contracts: Experimental Evidence for Mitigating the Insurance Gap," CESifo Working Paper Series 9442, CESifo.
    21. Georges Dionne & Scott Harrington, 2017. "Insurance and Insurance Markets," Working Papers 17-2, HEC Montreal, Canada Research Chair in Risk Management.
    22. Hui Shan Lee & Shyue Chuan Chong & Shen Yap & Bik Kai Sia & Ying Xi Chen, 2021. "Does Economic Freedom in Host Countries Lead to Increased Non-Life Insurance Development?," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, October.

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