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Insurers as asset managers and systemic risk

Author

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  • Ellul, Andrew
  • Jotikasthira, Chotibhak
  • Kartasheva, Anastasia
  • Lundblad, Christian T.
  • Wagner, Wolf

Abstract

Financial intermediaries often provide guarantees that resemble out-of-the-money put options, exposing them to tail risk. Using the U.S. life insurance industry as a laboratory, we present a model in which variable annuity (VA) guarantees and associated hedging operate within the regulatory capital framework to create incentives for insurers to overweight illiquid bonds (“reach-for-yield”). We then calibrate the model to insurer-level data, and show that the VA-writing insurers’ collective allocation to illiquid bonds exacerbates system-wide fire sales in the event of negative asset shocks, plausibly erasing up to 20-70% of insurers’ equity capital. JEL Classification: G11, G12, G14, G18, G22

Suggested Citation

  • Ellul, Andrew & Jotikasthira, Chotibhak & Kartasheva, Anastasia & Lundblad, Christian T. & Wagner, Wolf, 2018. "Insurers as asset managers and systemic risk," ESRB Working Paper Series 75, European Systemic Risk Board.
    • Handle: RePEc:srk:srkwps:201875
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrew Ellul & Chotibhak Jotikasthira & Christian T. Lundblad & Yihui Wang, 2015. "Is Historical Cost Accounting a Panacea? Market Stress, Incentive Distortions, and Gains Trading," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 70(6), pages 2489-2538, December.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies

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