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Investment risk taking by institutional investors

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  • Janko Gorter
  • Jacob A. Bikker

Abstract

According to theory, institutional investors face both risk-management and risk-shifting incentives. This article assesses the relevance of these conflicting incentives for Dutch pension funds and insurance firms over the period 1995 to 2009. Using a unique and extended data set, we observe a significant positive relationship between capital and asset risk for insurers, indicating that risk-management incentives dominate in the Dutch insurance industry. Risk-shifting incentives, however, also seem relevant, as stock insurers take more investment risk than their mutual peers. For Dutch pension funds, we conclude that overall neither risk-shifting nor risk-management incentives seem to dominate. Interestingly, we find that professional group pension funds take significantly less investment risk than other types of pension funds. This finding is in line with expectations, as in professional group pension funds potential incentive conflicts between pension fund participants and the employer are effectively internalized.

Suggested Citation

  • Janko Gorter & Jacob A. Bikker, 2013. "Investment risk taking by institutional investors," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(33), pages 4629-4640, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:45:y:2013:i:33:p:4629-4640
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2013.795282
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chia-Ling Ho & Gene Lai & Sangyong Han & Licheng Jin, 2022. "Organisational structure, corporate governance and reinsurance decisions in the U.S. property-liability insurance industry," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 47(4), pages 737-784, October.
    3. Sunaryo Sunaryo & Alvia Santoni & Endri Endri & Muhammad Nusjirwan Harahap, 2020. "Determinants of Capital Adequacy Ratio for Pension Funds: A Case Study in Indonesia," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(4), pages 203-213, July.
    4. Hutchinson, Marion & Seamer, Michael & Chapple, Larelle (Ellie), 2015. "Institutional Investors, Risk/Performance and Corporate Governance," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 31-52.
    5. O. Kuzmenko, M. Kascha, 2017. "Modeling the diagnostics of bankruptcy on Ukraine's insurance market based on harmonic analysis," Economy and Forecasting, Valeriy Heyets, issue 1, pages 146-157.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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