The Market for Catastrophe Risk: A Clinical Examination / Kenneth A. Froot.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Froot, Kenneth A.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w8110.

NBER working paper series no. w8110

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

The Market for Catastrophe Risk

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2001.

Summary:

This paper examines the market for catastrophe event risk i.e., financial claims that are linked to losses associated with natural hazards, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Risk management theory suggests protection by insurers and other corporations against the largest cat events is most valuable. We show, however, that historically most insurers have purchased relatively little cat reinsurance against large events. We also find that premiums are high relative to expected losses, especially after cat events. We then examine clinical evidence to understand why the theory fails. Specifically, we examine transactions that look to capital markets, rather than traditional reinsurance markets, for risk-bearing capacity. These provide hints as to why the theory fails. We explore these hints in eight theoretical explanations and find the most compelling to be supply restrictions associated with capital market imperfections and market power exerted by traditional reinsurers.

Notes:

Print version record

February 2001.