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Business and Economics > Insurance

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Cover IMF Working Papers
Extreme Weather Events, Agricultural Output, and Insurance: Evidence from South America
Juliette Caucheteux
,
Jonas Nauerz
, and
Svetlana Vtyurina
Extreme weather has profoundly affected countries across South America (SA), given the importance of the agricultural sector for the economies. However, these effects have not yet been properly measured. In our study, we construct a unique dataset of high-frequency satellite data on temperature, precipitation, and a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) that proxies the agricultural yield in selected countries. In particular, we then examine the effect of droughts on agricultural yields (soy output) and find that they have a significant negative impact and that there is heterogeneity in the response across countries. While insurance could help protect farmers against severe losses, coverage in the region is low, and barriers remain high. Building on existing literature and using a calibrated structural model, we highlight the benefits of insurance for Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and offer some recommendations for its expansion.
Keywords:
Agriculture; Productivity; NDVI; SPEI; Weather; Drought; Insurance; South America; weather event; soy output; loss from drought; benefits of insurance; NDVI in Brazil; Natural disasters; Agricultural sector; Agricultural production; Insurance companies; Caribbean
Cover Technical Assistance Reports
Papua New Guinea: Technical Assistance Report-Financial Sector Stability Review
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
The main objective of the FSSR diagnostic mission was to help the PNG authorities build a roadmap of technical assistance (TA) to address identified financial sector needs and gaps, with a view to strengthen resilience of financial institutions and to enhance the policy framework. The PNG FSSR diagnostic covered six areas: (i) macroprudential policy; (ii) regulation and supervision of banks and other deposit-taking financial institutions; (iii) regulation and supervision of insurance companies and pension funds; (iv) financial safety net and crisis preparedness framework; (v) financial market infrastructure; and (vi) financial sector statistics.
Keywords:
Financial sector stability; IMF MCM; Macro-financial risk; PNG FSSR TA roadmap.; IMF's Monetary; FSSF phase; FSSR recommendation; payment system oversight function department; IMF executive directors; BPNG's management; investment strategy; bridge bank authority; Macroprudential policy; Insurance; Payment systems; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Implementing Risk-Based Solvency for Insurers—Lessons from Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa
Peter Windsor
,
Suzette J Vogelsang
,
Christiaan Henning
,
Kerwin Martin
,
Elias Omondi
,
Gerardo Rubio
, and
Jooste Steynberg
International standards and best practice supports the implementation of a risk-based solvency regime in the regulation and supervision of insurers. Several emerging market and developing economies are transitioning to such a solvency regime or planning to do so. This paper discusses Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa’s journey to putting in place a risk-based solvency regime which had several common elements notwithstanding significantly different insurance sectors. The transition was a multi-year project requiring dedicated additional resources; restructuring of the regulator, including redesigning supervisory processes and tools and upgrading information technology systems; and significantly greater coordination between the regulator and the insurance industry.
Keywords:
Insurance; Risk-based Solvency; Risk-based supervision; solvency regime; Penetration rate; RBS project; solvency assessment; RBS implementation; supervision of insurer; Insurance companies; Solvency; Financial statements; Africa; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Luxembourg: Financial Sector Assessment Program—Technical Note on Insurance Regulation and Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note analyzes the key aspects of the regulatory and supervisory regime for insurance companies in Luxembourg. The analysis is part of the 2024 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) and based on the regulatory framework in place and the supervisory practices employed as of October 2023. The FSAP reviewed recent developments and the structure of the Luxembourgish insurance sector. The sector is large, well developed, and highly interconnected with other insurance markets through internationally active insurance groups and cross-border business. After having grown substantially in size, it is recommended to further strengthen the Commissariat aux Assurances’s (CAA) independence and its internal governance. The CAA’s staff has roughly doubled since the last FSAP but should be constantly reviewed with further expanding tasks. The authority’s independence could be further strengthened by safeguarding the independence of its Board members and narrowing down in the Insurance Act the reasons on which the CAA’s Directorate could be dismissed. The governance of the CAA would benefit from setting up an internal audit function, and strengthening IT governance as projects are currently conducted largely in-house.
Keywords:
solvency ASSESSMENT; International Monetary Fund Washington, d.c; solvency capital requirement; solvency coverage; G. Macroprudential supervision; Insurance; Insurance companies; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Solvency; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kingdom of the Netherlands-The Netherlands: Financial Sector Assessment Program- Technical Note on Insurance and Pension Fund Regulation and Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper highlights a technical note on insurance and pension fund regulation and supervision in The Netherlands. The Dutch insurance sector is undergoing further consolidation, the life sector has been steadily shrinking over the last two decades, and the non-life market is relatively saturated. Investment exposures to real estate are increasing, and Dutch insurers are large providers of mortgage loans. Solvency ratios of Dutch insurers are well above the regulatory threshold, but below the EU average and furthermore distorted by the mechanics of the ‘Long-Term Guarantee Measures’ in Solvency II. The Dutch pension system—considered to be among the best according to international comparisons—rests on three pillars. Most pension schemes are defined-benefit pensions, which have come under pressure since 2008, when low interest rates resulted in declining funding ratio and led to an overall loss in confidence in the system. The Dutch system for independent state agencies, including De Nederlandsche Bank and Autoriteit Financiële Markten, carefully balances powers and accountability. Supervision of insurers and pension funds is effective in the Netherlands.
Keywords:
insurance regulation regime; pension fund regulation; solvency Assessment; International Monetary Fund Washington, D.C.; pension fund Sector; organization of Supervision; FSAP's finding; Pension spending; Insurance companies; Pensions; Insurance; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment of Observance on Insurance Core Principles
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper discusses Detailed Assessment of Observance of Insurance Core Principles for the Japan Financial Sector Assessment Program. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) is the integrated regulator of financial services, including insurance but accepting the insurance activities of cooperatives. Areas of observance include licensing requirements, cooperation with other supervisors and anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. Regulatory material contains extensive requirements for licensing of insurers and the FSA works closely with applicants to assess whether they meet requirements, even if final decisions on licensing are taken by a minister. The assessment identified significant gaps in the current framework of regulation and supervision. The assessment found that, partly because of resource constraints, the FSA’s approach to insurance supervision is largely reactive. The resolution framework and process of resolution for insurers needs to be carefully reviewed. Finally, there is a need to strengthen institutional arrangements for insurance supervision. As recommended in previous assessments, the FSA’s independence should be bolstered by the delegation of insurer licensing powers currently reserved to a minister.
Keywords:
Japan FSAP; life insurer; General insurance rating Organization of Japan; earthquake insurance take-up; General insurance Association of Japan; Non-life insurance policyholder protection corporation; Insurance companies; Financial stability assessment; Insurance; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Solvency; Global
Cover Technical Assistance Reports
Principality of Andorra: Technical Assistance Report-Report on External Sector Statistics Mission (September 4–15, 2023)
International Monetary Fund. Statistics Dept.
A technical assistance (TA) mission on external sector statistics (ESS) was conducted for the Andorran Statistics Department (ASD) in the Principality of Andorra in September 2023. The mission focused on preparing plans to improve the frequency of producing balance of payments statistics and international investment position (IIP) from annual to quarterly and to enhance the coverage and quality of the balance of payments and IIP data. The mission assisted the ASD in establishing the framework of the quarterly enterprise survey, which will be used as one of the main source data for compiling balance of payments statistics and IIP quarterly.
Keywords:
Principality of Andorra; balance of payments; international investment position.; IMF's Statistics Department; enterprise survey; IIP quarterly; IMF executive directors; ad IIP; International investment position; Balance of payments statistics; Income; Insurance
Cover Global Financial Stability Notes
Private Equity and Life Insurers
Fabio Cortes
,
Mohamed Diaby
, and
Peter Windsor
This Global Financial Stability Note studies the growing trend of private equity (PE) investments into the life insurance industry. PE companies’ investments in life insurers are integral to their strategic growth as PE firms evolve beyond the traditional leveraged buyout transaction to acquire diverse businesses across private credit, structured credit, private real estate funds, and private infrastructure funds. This note reviews the growth in PE investments through the lens of the diverse acquisition incentives and strategies, the consequent changes to asset allocation and investment strategies of the acquired life businesses, and potential prudential and policy implications.
Keywords:
private equity; life insurance; leveraged buyout transaction; private credit; structured credit; private real estate funds; private infrastructure funds; life insurer; private equity company; life insurance insurance company; PE company; IMF Library; Global Financial stability note; Insurance companies; Insurance; Credit; Financial statements; Asset allocation; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Belgium: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Insurance Regulation and Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) conducted a focused review of insurance regulation and supervision in Belgium. This technical note (TN) provides an update on the insurance sector and highlights risks and vulnerabilities. It analyzes key aspects of regulatory and supervisory oversight: supervisor; the solvency framework; supervision (micro and macro); changes in control and portfolio transfer, reinsurance; conduct of business and group supervision and supervisory co-operation and co-ordination. Belgium has adopted a twin peaks model of regulatory oversight and supervision. The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) is responsible for prudential supervision at both a micro and macro level whilst the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) is mandated with conduct of business supervision. The analysis focuses on supervision within the scope of the NBB’s and the FSMA’s mandates. The TN comments on progress in respect of the implementation of recommendations made by the previous FSAP and offers further recommendations to strengthen the regulatory and supervisory regime.
Keywords:
risk assessment framework; pre-emptive conduct supervision; conduct risk; group supervision; NBB's role; Insurance companies; Insurance; Mortgages; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Solvency; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Trinidad and Tobago: Technical Assistance Report-Strengthening Cybersecurity in Financial Institutions
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note evaluates strengthening cybersecurity in financial institutions of Trinidad and Tobago. The deliverables included a capacity-building seminar on regulation of cyber risk. The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago identified the need for filling regulatory gaps and desires to issue a focused guideline on cybersecurity covering governance, risk management, incident reporting, and cyber hygiene, and intends to develop a draft guideline for consultation with its regulated institutions in the first quarter of 2023. Supervisory arrangements for Information and Communication Technology/cyber risks need further improvements and resource constraints within Financial Institutions Supervision Department need to be addressed urgently. The Identity and Access Management project has been formally set up and is now in Phase 1, which is considered preparatory. The governance of the project, the high-level roadmap, and the deliverables for Phase 1 are generally in line with good practices. It is recommended to establish regular cybersecurity meetings and reporting regime at the Board level with the participation of the Head of IT Security.
Keywords:
cybersecurity governance; Cybersecurity governance assessment; cybersecurity policy; control environment; pension firm; Cyber risk; Pensions; Insurance; Payment systems; Financial sector; Global