IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jjrfmx/v14y2021i6p266-d574082.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Financial Stability of European Insurance Companies during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Karolina Puławska

    (Accounting Departament, Kozminski University, ul. Jagiellońska, 5903-301 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority suggests that as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant disruption to the economy, businesses, and people’s lives, national supervisory authorities should mitigate the pandemic’s impact on the European insurance sector. The functioning of insurance companies is in danger as they must balance a drastic increase in the number of claims with their capital and solvency stability. In this study, we evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on insurance companies using European insurance companies’ financial statement data from 2010 to 2020. The results unambiguously demonstrate that the pandemic has negatively affected the functioning of the insurance sector. In particular, the return on assets decreased in German and Italian insurance companies during the pandemic. Furthermore, the solvency ratio decreased in the Belgian, French, and German insurance sectors. Conversely, the Polish insurance sector was unaffected. Moreover, we did not find any effects on the Z-score ratio in our sample. Lastly, the value of receivables owed to Belgian insurance companies increased. Based on this evidence, we argue that European legislators should discuss how to manage the probable financial problems of insurance companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Karolina Puławska, 2021. "Financial Stability of European Insurance Companies during the COVID-19 Pandemic," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:6:p:266-:d:574082
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/14/6/266/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/14/6/266/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ralph S. J. Koijen & Motohiro Yogo, 2015. "The Cost of Financial Frictions for Life Insurers," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(1), pages 445-475, January.
    2. Altunbas, Yener & Binici, Mahir & Gambacorta, Leonardo, 2018. "Macroprudential policy and bank risk," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 203-220.
    3. Faisal Baluch & Stanley Mutenga & Chris Parsons, 2011. "Insurance, Systemic Risk and the Financial Crisis," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 36(1), pages 126-163, January.
    4. Lepetit, Laetitia & Strobel, Frank, 2013. "Bank insolvency risk and time-varying Z-score measures," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 73-87.
    5. Robert Engle & Eric Jondeau & Michael Rockinger, 2015. "Systemic Risk in Europe," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 19(1), pages 145-190.
    6. Hausman, Jerry, 2015. "Specification tests in econometrics," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 38(2), pages 112-134.
    7. Robert McDonald & Anna Paulson, 2015. "AIG in Hindsight," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 29(2), pages 81-106, Spring.
    8. Grzegorz Zimon, 2020. "Issues of financial liquidity of small and medium-sized trading companies: a case study from Poland," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 8(1), pages 363-372, September.
    9. Haiqiang Chen & Wenlan Qian & Qiang Wen, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumption: Learning from High-Frequency Transaction Data," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 111, pages 307-311, May.
    10. Carlo Pugnetti & Mischa Seitz, 2021. "Data-Driven Services in Insurance: Potential Evolution and Impact in the Swiss Market," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Grzegorz Zimon & Hossein Tarighi, 2021. "Effects of the COVID-19 Global Crisis on the Working Capital Management Policy: Evidence from Poland," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, April.
    12. Baah Aye Kusi & Abdul Latif Alhassan & Daniel Ofori-Sasu & Rockson Sai, 2019. "Insurance regulations, risk and performance in Ghana," Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(1), pages 74-96, August.
    13. Pasiouras, Fotios & Gaganis, Chrysovalantis, 2013. "Regulations and soundness of insurance firms: International evidence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(5), pages 632-642.
    14. Grzegorz Zimon & Robert Dankiewicz, 2020. "Trade Credit Management Strategies in SMEs and the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Case of Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-16, July.
    15. Katrien Kestens & Philippe Van Cauwenberge & Heidi Vander Bauwhede, 2012. "Trade credit and company performance during the 2008 financial crisis," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 52(4), pages 1125-1151, December.
    16. Lepetit, Laetitia & Strobel, Frank, 2013. "Bank insolvency risk and time-varying Z-score measures," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 73-87.
    17. Philipp Hauser & David Schönheit & Hendrik Scharf & Carl-Philipp Anke & Dominik Möst, 2021. "Covid-19’s Impact on European Power Sectors: An Econometric Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-17, March.
    18. Edward I. Altman & Alessandro Danovi & Alberto Falini, 2013. "Z-Score Models’ application to Italian companies subject to extraordinary administration," BANCARIA, Bancaria Editrice, vol. 4, pages 24-37, April.
    19. Hryckiewicz, Aneta, 2014. "What do we know about the impact of government interventions in the banking sector? An assessment of various bailout programs on bank behavior," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 246-265.
    20. Caporale, Guglielmo Maria & Cerrato, Mario & Zhang, Xuan, 2017. "Analysing the determinants of insolvency risk for general insurance firms in the UK," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 107-122.
    21. Laeven, Luc & Levine, Ross, 2009. "Bank governance, regulation and risk taking," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 259-275, August.
    22. Mitchell A. Petersen, 2009. "Estimating Standard Errors in Finance Panel Data Sets: Comparing Approaches," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(1), pages 435-480, January.
    23. Evans, Olaniyi, 2020. "Socio-economic impacts of novel coronavirus: The policy solutions," BizEcons Quarterly, Strides Educational Foundation, vol. 7, pages 3-12.
    24. Umar Farooq & Adeel Nasir & Bilal & Muhammad Umer Quddoos, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on abnormal returns of insurance firms: a cross-country evidence," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(31), pages 3658-3678, July.
    25. Goodell, John W., 2020. "COVID-19 and finance: Agendas for future research," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    26. Guillaume Plantin & Jean-Charles Rochet, 2007. "Introduction to When Insurers Go Bust: An Economic Analysis of the Role and Design of Prudential Regulation," Introductory Chapters, in: When Insurers Go Bust: An Economic Analysis of the Role and Design of Prudential Regulation, Princeton University Press.
    27. E. Chuke Nwude & Elias I. Agbo & Christian Ibe-Lamberts, 2018. "Effect of Cash Conversion Cycle on the Profitability of Public Listed Insurance Companies," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 8(1), pages 111-117.
    28. Grzegorz Zimon, 2020. "An Analysis of Working Capital Management Strategy in Small Enterprises Operating Within Group Purchasing Organizations," Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics, in: Mehmet Huseyin Bilgin & Hakan Danis & Ender Demir & Uchenna Tony-Okeke (ed.), Eurasian Economic Perspectives, pages 103-111, Springer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hafeez, Bilal & Li, Xiping & Kabir, M. Humayun & Tripe, David, 2022. "Measuring bank risk: Forward-looking z-score," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. Miletic, Marko & Pavic Kramaric, Tomislava & Plazibat, Boze, 2019. "What Determines Financial Soundness Of Croatian Listed Firms?," UTMS Journal of Economics, University of Tourism and Management, Skopje, Macedonia, vol. 10(2), pages 189-200.
    3. Nyola, Annick Pamen & Sauviat, Alain & Tarazi, Amine & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk, 2021. "How organizational and geographic complexity influence performance: Evidence from European banks," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    4. Marc Kouzez, 2021. "Foreign ownership and bank performance Evidence from French market," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(2), pages 834-847.
    5. Gaganis, Chrysovalantis & Hasan, Iftekhar & Papadimitri, Panagiota & Tasiou, Menelaos, 2019. "National culture and risk-taking: Evidence from the insurance industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 104-116.
    6. Risfandy, Tastaftiyan & Tarazi, Amine & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2022. "Competition in dual markets: Implications for banking system stability," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    7. Shailesh Rastogi & Rajani Gupte & R. Meenakshi, 2021. "A Holistic Perspective on Bank Performance Using Regulation, Profitability, and Risk-Taking with a View on Ownership Concentration," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-22, March.
    8. Lepetit, Laetitia & Strobel, Frank, 2015. "Bank insolvency risk and Z-score measures: A refinement," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 214-224.
    9. Daniel Attah-Kyei & Charles Andoh & Saint Kuttu, 2023. "Risk, technical efficiency and capital requirements of Ghanaian insurers," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(4), pages 1-27, December.
    10. Naaman, Christine & Magnan, Michel & Hammami, Ahmad & Yao, Li, 2021. "Credit unions vs. commercial banks, who takes more risk?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    11. Ryu, Doojin & Yu, Jinyoung, 2021. "Nonlinear effect of subordinated debt changes on bank performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    12. Kévin Spinassou & Carole Haritchabalet & Laetitia Lepetit, 2020. "Le ratio de levier comme renforcement des fonds propres : une analyse empirique des conséquences sur le risque et le crédit bancaires," Working Papers hal-02546283, HAL.
    13. Sascha Tobias Wengerek & Benjamin Hippert & André Uhde, 2019. "Risk allocation through securitization - Evidence from non-performing loans," Working Papers Dissertations 58, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.
    14. Fiordelisi, Franco & Mare, Davide Salvatore, 2014. "Competition and financial stability in European cooperative banks," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-16.
    15. Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong & Tingbani, Ishmael & Adesina, Oluseyi Oluseun, 2022. "Stochastic frontier modelling of working capital efficiency across Europe," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    16. Janbaz, Mehdi & Hassan, M. Kabir & Floreani, Josanco & Dreassi, Alberto & Jiménez, Alfredo, 2022. "Political risk in banks: A review and agenda," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    17. Mare, Davide Salvatore & Moreira, Fernando & Rossi, Roberto, 2017. "Nonstationary Z-Score measures," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 260(1), pages 348-358.
    18. Hassan Belkacem GHASSAN, 2017. "New alternative measuring financial stability," Turkish Economic Review, KSP Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 275-281, September.
    19. Lepetit, L. & Meslier, C. & Strobel, F. & Wardhana, L., 2018. "Bank dividends, agency costs and shareholder and creditor rights," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 93-111.
    20. Leroy, Aurélien & Lucotte, Yannick, 2017. "Is there a competition-stability trade-off in European banking?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 199-215.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:6:p:266-:d:574082. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.