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The Behavioral Economics of Insurance

Author

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  • Ali al-Nowaihi
  • Sanjit Dhami

Abstract

We focus on four stylized facts of behavior under risk. Decision makers: (1) Overweight low probabilities and underweight high probabilities. (2) Ignore events of extremely low probability and treat extremely high probability events as certain. (3) Buy inadequate insurance for very low probability events. (4) Keeping the expected loss fixed, there is a probability below which the take-up of insurance drops dramatically. Expected utility (EU) fails on 1-4. Existing models of rank dependent utility (RDU) and cumulative prospect theory (CP) satisfy 1 but fail on 2, 3, 4. We propose a new class of axiomatically-founded probability weighting functions, the composite Prelec weighting functions CPF) that simultaneously account for 1 and 2. When CPF are combined with RDU and CP we get respectively, composite rank dependent utility (CRDU) and composite cumulative prospect theory (CCP). Both CRDU and CCP are able to successfully explain 1-4. CCP is, however, more satisfactory than CRDU because it incorporates the empirically robust phenomena of reference dependence and loss aversion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali al-Nowaihi & Sanjit Dhami, 2010. "The Behavioral Economics of Insurance," Discussion Papers in Economics 10/12, Division of Economics, School of Business, University of Leicester, revised Apr 2010.
    • Handle: RePEc:lec:leecon:10/12
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    File URL: https://www.le.ac.uk/economics/research/RePEc/lec/leecon/dp10-12.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali al-Nowaihi & Sanjit Dhami, 2010. "Composite Prospect Theory: A proposal to combine ‘prospect theory’ and ‘cumulative prospect theory’," Discussion Papers in Economics 10/11, Division of Economics, School of Business, University of Leicester.
    2. Ali al-Nowaihi & Sanjit Dhami, 2010. "Probability Weighting Functions," Discussion Papers in Economics 10/10, Division of Economics, School of Business, University of Leicester.
    3. Chris Starmer, 2000. "Developments in Non-expected Utility Theory: The Hunt for a Descriptive Theory of Choice under Risk," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(2), pages 332-382, June.
    4. Bar-Ilan, Avner & Sacerdote, Bruce, 2004. "The Response of Criminals and Noncriminals to Fines," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 47(1), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Williams, A.F. & Lund, A.K., 1986. "Seat belt use laws and occupant crash protection in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 76(12), pages 1438-1442.
    6. Ali al-Nowaihi & Ian Bradley & Sanjit Dhami, 2006. "The Utility Function Under Prospect Theory," Discussion Papers in Economics 06/15, Division of Economics, School of Business, University of Leicester.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chimuka Leo Haamukwanza, 2021. "To insure or not to insure—the role that government and insurance practice should play: a thematic comparison of the urban poor and the workers in the pensions and insurance industry," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(9), pages 1-20, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decision making under risk; Insurance; Composite Prelec probability weighting functions; Composite rank dependent utility theory; Composite cumulative rospect theory; power invariance; local power invariance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C60 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - General
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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