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Low interest rates and life insurance with equity insurance fund on German market (Niskie stopy procentowe a ubezpieczenia na zycie z ubezpieczeniowym funduszem kapitalowym na rynku niemieckim)

Author

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  • Patrick Matussek

Abstract

Low interest rates have led to a situation in which some investment products have become largely unprofitable (or less profitable) than they were a few years ago. An example of such an investment product is life insurance from an insurance fund on the German market. The guarantee of capital protection on the one hand and the guaranteed rate of return on the other hand, have led to the situation where such a product for insurers becomes problematic. The entire risk of the investment lies with the insurer, and therefore changing the current portfolio to riskier but also higher returns is in some cases inadvisable. In particular, most life insurance clients with an insurance capital fund prefer capital guarantees with higher return rates. Solvency II, which has been in operation since the beginning of 2016, seeks to define certain types of guidelines and standards for insurers so that asset investments “stick” in the computable framework. In the current situation, it is difficult to determine the impact on the insurance market, but it can be argued that both current clients and insurers should consider alternatives to investment in capital or agree to increase the risk in the investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Matussek, 2017. "Low interest rates and life insurance with equity insurance fund on German market (Niskie stopy procentowe a ubezpieczenia na zycie z ubezpieczeniowym funduszem kapitalowym na rynku niemieckim)," Research Reports, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(24), pages 142-149.
    • Handle: RePEc:sgm:resrep:v:2:i:24:y:2017:p:142-149
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jin Cao & Gerhard Illing, 2015. "“Interest Rate Trap”, or Why Does the Central Bank Keep the Policy Rate Too Low for Too Long?," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 117(4), pages 1256-1280, October.
    2. Michael Martin, 2013. "Assessing the model risk with respect to the interest rate term structure under Solvency II," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 14(3), pages 200-233, May.
    3. Elia Berdin & Helmut Gründl, 2015. "The Effects of a Low Interest Rate Environment on Life Insurers," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 40(3), pages 385-415, July.
    4. Bohnert, Alexander & Born, Patricia & Gatzert, Nadine, 2014. "Dynamic hybrid products in life insurance: Assessing the policyholders’ viewpoint," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 87-99.
    5. repec:eme:jrfpps:v:14:y:2013:i:2:p:200-233 is not listed on IDEAS
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    interest rates; life insurance; Solvency II;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity

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