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Business and Economics > Insurance

You are looking at 1 - 4 of 4 items for :

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Cover IMF Working Papers
Natural Disaster Insurance for Sovereigns: Issues, Challenges and Optimality
Aliona Cebotari
and
Karim Youssef
Natural disasters are a source of economic risks in many countries, especially in smaller and lower-income states, and ex-ante preparedness is needed to manage the risks. The paper discusses sovereign experience with disaster insurance as a key instrument to mitigate the risks; proposes ways to judge the adequacy of insurance; and considers ways to enhance its use by vulnerable countries. The paper especially aims to inform policy decisions on disaster insurance. Through simulations of natural disasters and various insurance options, we find that sovereign decisions on optimal risk transfer involve balancing trade-offs between growth and debt, based on government risk preferences and country risk exposure. The choice of optimal insurance for smaller countries turns out to be more constrained by cost considerations due to their higher exposure, likely resulting in underinsurance; donor grants could help them achieve a more optimal protection. We also find that optimal insurance packages are those that are least costly relative to expected payouts (i.e. have the lowest insurance multiple), which are also the packages that insure less severe (more frequent) disasters.
Keywords:
WP; insurance coverage; insurance premium; insurance package; utility function; catastrophe risk insurance program; agency GSIS; options country; Insurance; Natural disasters; Insurance companies; Options; Disaster aid; Caribbean; natural disaster insurance; debt growth tradeoffs; optimal insurance for sovereigns
Cover Policy Papers
Building Resilience in Developing Countries Vulnerable to Large Natural Disasters
International Monetary Fund. Strategy, Policy, &amp
,
Review Department
,
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
, and
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
This paper discusses how countries vulnerable to natural disasters can reduce the associated human and economic cost. Building on earlier work by IMF staff, the paper views disaster risk management through the lens of a three-pillar strategy for building structural, financial, and post-disaster (including social) resilience. A coherent disaster resilience strategy, based on a diagnostic of risks and cost-effective responses, can provide a road map for how to tackle disaster related vulnerabilities. It can also help mobilize much-needed support from the international community.
Keywords:
PP; country; country effort; lending toolkit; executive board assessment; disaster-vulnerable country; donor country; climate funds; Natural disasters; Insurance; Disaster aid; Climate change; Fiscal space; Caribbean; Pacific Islands
Cover Policy Papers
Small States Resilience to Natural Disasters and Climate Change - Role for the IMF
International Monetary Fund
Small developing states are disproportionately vulnerable to natural disasters. On average, the annual cost of disasters for small states is nearly 2 percent of GDP—more than four times that for larger countries. This reflects a higher frequency of disasters, adjusted for land area, as well as greater vulnerability to severe disasters. About 9 percent of disasters in small states involve damage of more than 30 percent of GDP, compared to less than 1 percent for larger states. Greater exposure to disasters has important macroeconomic effects on small states, resulting in lower investment, lower GDP per capita, higher poverty, and a more volatile revenue base.
Keywords:
PP; climate change financing; contingent financing arrangement; disaster risk financing tool kit; financing needs; Fund emergency financing; low income; Fund financing; balance of payments; disaster financing approach; debt management; central bank; B. risk financing toolkit; Natural disasters; Climate change; Climate finance; Disaster aid; Insurance; Global; Pacific Islands; Caribbean; Sub-Saharan Africa
Cover IMF Working Papers
Natural Disasters: Mitigating Impact, Managing Risks
Ms. Nicole Laframboise
and
Mr. Boileau Loko
This paper reviews the literature on the macroeconomic impact of natural disasters and presents the IMF’s role in assisting countries coping with natural catastrophes. Focusing on seven country cases, the paper describes the emergency financing, policy support, and technical assistance provided by the Fund to help governments put together a policy response or build a macro framework to lay the foundation for recovery and/or unlock other external financing. The literature and experience suggests there are ways to strengthen policy frameworks to increase resilience to natural disaster shocks, including identifying the risks and probability of natural disasters and integrating them more explicitly into macro frame-works, increasing flexibility within fiscal frameworks, and improving coordination amongst international partners ex post and ex ante.
Keywords:
WP; IMF financing; disaster risk financing strategy; fund emergency financing; IMF's financing instrument; contingent financing; financing catalyst; fund financing; IMF program; natural disasters; economic growth; self-insurance; buffers; private sector; Balance of payments need; Disaster aid; Emergency assistance; Insurance; Global