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Pareto-efficient risk sharing in centralized insurance markets with application to flood risk
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Pareto-efficient risk sharing in centralized insurance markets with application to flood risk

Tim J. Boonen, Wing Fung Chong and Mario Ghossoub
The Journal of risk and insurance, Vol.91(2), pp.449-488
06/2024
DOI: 10.1111/jori.12468
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/jori.12468View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Centralized insurance can be found in both the private and public sectors. This paper provides a microeconomic study of the risk-sharing mechanisms in these markets, where multiple policyholders interact with a centralized monopolistic insurer. With minimal assumptions on the risk preferences of the market participants, we characterize Pareto optimality in terms of the agents' risk positions and their assessment of the likelihoods associated with their loss tail events. We relate Pareto efficiency in this market to a naturally associated cooperative game. Based on our theoretical results, we then consider a model of flood insurance coverage via an illustrative example. The lessons drawn from our theoretical results and this example lead to important policy implications for the existing National Flood Insurance Program in the United States.
Business & Economics Business, Finance Economics Social Sciences

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