Economic crisis and determinants of solvency in the insurance sector: new evidence from Spain

This paper analyzes the factors that determine the solvency of the insurance companies operating in Spain. The selected time span, from 2008 to 2015, encompasses a period of economic instability characterized by record low interest rates and low or even negative economic growth. Using a dynamic pane...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Moreno-Gabaldon, Ignacio, Parrado-Martínez, Purificación, Trujillo-Ponce, Antonio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Jaén
Repositorio:RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
OAI Identifier:oai:ruja.ujaen.es:10953/6000
Acceso en línea:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acfi.12422
https://hdl.handle.net/10953/6000
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Insurance
Solvency
Capitalization
Economic crisis
European financial system
G22
G28
G32
G33
Descripción
Sumario:This paper analyzes the factors that determine the solvency of the insurance companies operating in Spain. The selected time span, from 2008 to 2015, encompasses a period of economic instability characterized by record low interest rates and low or even negative economic growth. Using a dynamic panel data model, we conclude that actual solvency margins are positively related to profitability, underwriting risk, and a mutual-type organization but inversely related to size, reinsurance use, longer-tailed business, and life insurance specialization. We also find that less concentrated markets and the context of an economic crisis decrease solvency margins.