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ART versus reinsurance: the disciplining effect of information insensitivity

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  • Brandts, Silke
  • Laux, Christian

Abstract

We provide a novel benefit of "Alternative Risk Transfer" (ART) products with parametric or index triggers. When a reinsurer has private information about his client’s risk, outside reinsurers will price their reinsurance offer less aggressively. Outsiders are subject to adverse selection as only a high-risk insurer might find it optimal to change reinsurers. This creates a hold-up problem that allows the incumbent to extract an information rent. An informationinsensitive ART product with a parametric or index trigger is not subject to adverse selection. It can therefore be used to compete against an informed reinsurer, thereby reducing the premium that a low-risk insurer has to pay for the indemnity contract. However, ART products exhibit an interesting fate in our model as they are useful, but not used in equilibrium because of basis-risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Brandts, Silke & Laux, Christian, 2005. "ART versus reinsurance: the disciplining effect of information insensitivity," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 24664, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:24664
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/24664/
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    Cited by:

    1. Darius Lakdawalla & George Zanjani, 2012. "Catastrophe Bonds, Reinsurance, and the Optimal Collateralization of Risk Transfer," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 79(2), pages 449-476, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    cat bonds; risk transfer; index trigger; adverse selection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies

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