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Budget-constrained optimal insurance without the nonnegativity constraint on indemnities
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Budget-constrained optimal insurance without the nonnegativity constraint on indemnities

Mario Ghossoub
Insurance, mathematics & economics, Vol.84, pp.22-39
01/01/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.insmatheco.2018.10.004
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.insmatheco.2018.10.004View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

In a problem of Pareto-efficient insurance contracting (bilateral risk sharing) with expected-utility preferences, Collier (1987) relaxes the nonnegativity constraint on indemnities and argues that the existence of a deductible is only due to the variability in the cost of insurance, not the nonnegativity constraint itself. In this paper, we find support for a similar statement in problems of budget-constrained optimal insurance (i.e., demand for insurance). Specifically, we consider a setting of ambiguity (unilateral and bilateral) and a setting of belief heterogeneity. We drop the nonnegativity constraint and assume no cost (or a fixed cost) to the insurer, and we derive closed-form solutions to the problems that we formulate. In particular, we show that optimal indemnities no longer include a deductible provision; and they can be negative for small values of the loss, or in case of no loss. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Business & Economics Economics Mathematical Methods In Social Sciences Mathematics Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications Physical Sciences Science & Technology Social Sciences Social Sciences, Mathematical Methods Statistics & Probability

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