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Business and Economics > Insurance

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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 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
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
St. Kitts and Nevis: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This Selected Issues paper reviews anecdotal evidence on labor market conditions and discusses policy options to strengthen the labor market and support growth in St. Kitts and Nevis. The diagnosis of labor market conditions reveals challenges and opportunities in wages, productivity, and labor allocation across sectors. These include strengthening jobs and growth opportunities across sectors, enhancing the wage setting system to support competitiveness, and increasing the efficiency of the public sector. Strong institutions are needed to effectively manage public sector wages over the medium term. Several institutional arrangements can facilitate this goal including regular comparison between public and private sector wages, regular wage negotiations as opposed to ad hoc adjustments, and using medium-term wage bill forecasting to support better fiscal outcomes. Labor market and growth policies could play a key role in strengthening jobs and growth in the post-coronavirus disease era, including by leveraging sectoral linkages to provide more diversified and higher quality job opportunities, enhancing labor market policies, and increasing the efficiency of the public sector.
Keywords:
C. climate change ADAPTATION; labor market diagnosis; staff team of the International Monetary Fund; D. wage policy; Policy implication; Public sector wages; Labor markets; Wages; Employment; Caribbean; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Finland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Non-Bank Financial Intermediation and Pension Insurance Companies
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note evaluates non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) as a sector in Finland, with a special focus on the pension insurance companies (PIC). Pensions, including the PICs and fund managers, are the most significant parts of the NBFI sector, followed by insurance. Market participants value their relationship with the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority, particularly during crisis periods, but noted that extra resources and expertise would be useful for the NBFI sector. The Financial Sector Assessment Program analysis reveals a history of procyclical and herding behavior in the PIC portfolios due to the substance and perception of the solvency regulations, which drive the behavior of market participants. Discussion on further reforms to the 2017 solvency laws should focus on enhancing the long-term purpose of the PICs to generate returns—to the benefit of all social partners and Finnish citizens. Even though liquidity risks are low, a liquidity regulation should be developed so that PICs have sufficient buffers for extreme events.
Keywords:
PIC equity investment; PIC asset allocation; Pension insurance company; pension insurance company Market; FSAP's finding; finance disclosure Regulation; investment allocation; Pension spending; Solvency; Pensions; Insurance companies; Insurance; Global; Europe
Cover IMF Working Papers
Intergenerational Transmission of Education in a Developing Country: Evidence from A Mass Education Program in Vietnam
Trung Hoang
and
Ha Nguyen
We study the long-run and multi-generational effects of a mass education program in Vietnam during the First Indochina War (1946-1954). Difference-in-difference estimations indicate that the children of mothers exposed to the education program had an average of 0.9 more years of education. We argue that the impact is via mother’s education. An additional year of maternal education increases children’s education by up to 0.65 years, a stronger effect than those found in the existing literature. Better household lifestyles and a stronger focus on education are possible transmission pathways.
Keywords:
mass education; human capital transmission; mother education; Vietnam; education program; ha Nguyen; household lifestyle; intergenerational transmission; Labor markets; Income; Women; Insurance; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Ireland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Insurance Regulation and Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Technical Note highlights Ireland’s Insurance Regulation and Supervision. Ireland’s insurance sector is characterized by high penetration and density in both the life and the non-life sector, which, however, stems largely from outward cross-border business. Irish insurers have proved to be resilient during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, although the full effects have yet to be seen. Primary drivers of solvency ratios have been financial market and interest rate movements affecting insurers’ investment portfolios and liability valuations. The Central Bank has been expanding its analysis of climate risks and corresponding risk management practices in the financial sector. There is scope for the Central Bank to leverage its expertise and experience to promote further EU convergence on insurance oversight. The Central Bank has been very active in policy discussions at the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and is well placed to take a leading role in the efforts to achieve consistent application of EU legislation, and generally supervisory convergence, on the supervision of cross-border business; the supervision of intra-group transactions and group concentrations; and the supervision of captives.
Keywords:
solvency capital requirement; risk mitigation program; solvency ASSESSMENT; probability risk; financial condition; Insurance companies; Insurance; Solvency; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Insurance Sector - Regulation and Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
The South African insurance sector is large, complex, internationally active, and competitive. Supported by high penetration and density of insurance products, the insurance sector has grown to account for 18 percent of the financial sector in South Africa. The industry hosts an unusually diverse range of business models, including traditional participation focused models, bank-led conglomerates, asset management focused groups, and technology driven new entrants. Even among large insurers, risk profiles vary significantly, which is unique relative to other major insurance markets. Most large insurance groups are actively expanding their business both regionally and globally.
Keywords:
IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program; solvency assessment; FSAP's finding; B. solvency requirement; life insurer; Insurance companies; Insurance; Stress testing; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Solvency; Africa