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Why life insurers are key to economic dynamism in Germany

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  • Gropp, Reint
  • McShane, William

Abstract

Young entrepreneurial firms are of critical importance for innovation. But to bring their new ideas to the market, these startups depend on investors who understand and are willing to accept the risk associated with a new firm. Perhaps the key reason as to why the US has succeeded in producing nearly all the most successful new firms of the 21st century is the economy's ability to supply vast sums of capital to promising startups. The volume of venture capital (VC) invested in the US is more than 60 times that of Germany (OECD, 2017). In this policy note, we argue that differences in the regulatory and structural context of institutional investors, in particular life insurance companies, is a central driver of the relative lack of VC - and thereby successful startups - in Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Gropp, Reint & McShane, William, 2020. "Why life insurers are key to economic dynamism in Germany," IWH Online 6/2020, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:iwhonl:62020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Black, Bernard S. & Gilson, Ronald J., 1998. "Venture capital and the structure of capital markets: banks versus stock markets," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 243-277, March.
    2. Kablau, Anke & Weiß, Matthias, 2014. "How is the low-interest-rate environment affecting the solvency of German life insurers?," Discussion Papers 27/2014e, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    3. Alexander Braun & Hato Schmeiser & Caroline Siegel, 2014. "The Impact of Private Equity on a Life Insurer's Capital Charges Under Solvency II and the Swiss Solvency Test," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 81(1), pages 113-158, March.
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