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The Perfect Storm: Hurricanes, Insurance, and Regulation

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  • Martin F. Grace
  • Robert W. Klein

Abstract

The intense hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 caused considerable instability in property insurance markets in coastal states with the greatest problems occurring in Florida and the Southeast. Insurers have substantially raised rates and decreased their exposures. While no severe hurricanes struck the United States in 2006 and 2007, market pressures remain strong given the high risk still facing coastal states. These developments generate considerable concern and controversy among various stakeholder groups. Government responses have varied. In Florida, political pressures prompted a wave of legislation and regulations to expand government underwriting and subsidization of hurricane risk and constrain insurers' rates and market adjustments. Other states' actions seem more moderate. In this context, it is important to understand how property insurance markets have been changing and governments have been responding to increased catastrophe risk. This article examines important market developments and evaluates associated government policies. We comment on how regulation is affecting the equilibration of insurance markets and offer opinions on policies that are helpful and harmful.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin F. Grace & Robert W. Klein, 2009. "The Perfect Storm: Hurricanes, Insurance, and Regulation," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 12(1), pages 81-124, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rmgtin:v:12:y:2009:i:1:p:81-124
    DOI: j.1540-6296.2009.01155.x
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    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6296.2009.01155.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy Besley & Stephen Coate, 2003. "Elected Versus Appointed Regulators: Theory and Evidence," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 1(5), pages 1176-1206, September.
    2. Kenneth A. Froot & Paul G. J. O'Connell, 1999. "The Pricing of U.S. Catastrophe Reinsurance," NBER Chapters, in: The Financing of Catastrophe Risk, pages 195-232, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Martin F. Grace & Robert W. Klein & Paul R. Kleindorfer, 2004. "Homeowners Insurance With Bundled Catastrophe Coverage," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 71(3), pages 351-379, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Howard Kunreuther & Erwann Michel-Kerjan, 2015. "Demand for fixed-price multi-year contracts: Experimental evidence from insurance decisions," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 171-194, October.
    2. Vijay Aseervatham & Patricia Born & Dominik Lohmaier & Andreas Richter, 2017. "Hazard-Specific Supply Reactions in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 42(2), pages 193-225, April.
    3. Robert W. Klein & Harold Weston, 2020. "Government insurance for business interruption losses from pandemics: An evaluation of its feasibility and possible frameworks," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 23(4), pages 401-440, December.
    4. Lorilee A. Medders & Charles M. Nyce & J. Bradley Karl, 2014. "Market Implications of Public Policy Interventions: The Case of Florida's Property Insurance Market," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 17(2), pages 183-214, September.
    5. Frederick Schuh & Tanja Jaeckle, 2023. "Impact of hurricanes on US insurance stocks," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 26(1), pages 5-34, March.
    6. James M. Carson & Kathleen A. McCullough & David M. Pooser, 2013. "Deciding Whether to Invest in Mitigation Measures: Evidence From Florida," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 80(2), pages 309-327, June.
    7. Ning Wang & Yiling Deng, 2016. "Market responses to loss shocks and insurers' post-catastrophe performance in the US property-casualty insurance market," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 231-246.
    8. Charles M. Nyce & Patrick Maroney, 2011. "Are Territorial Rating Models Outdated in Residential Property Insurance Markets? Evidence From the Florida Property Insurance Market," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 14(2), pages 201-232, September.
    9. Paul Kleindorfer & Howard Kunreuther & Chieh Ou-Yang, 2012. "Single-year and multi-year insurance policies in a competitive market," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 51-78, August.
    10. Nicola Ranger & Swenja Surminski, 2011. "A preliminary assessment of the impact of climate change on non-life insurance demand in the BRICS economies," GRI Working Papers 63, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
    11. Manoj Athavale & Stephen M. Avila, 2011. "An Analysis of the Demand for Earthquake Insurance," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 14(2), pages 233-246, September.
    12. Trevor Maynard & Nicola Ranger, 2011. "What role for �long-term� insurance in adaptation? An analysis of the prospects for and pricing of multi-year insurance contracts," GRI Working Papers 62, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
    13. Cassandra R. Cole & David A. Macpherson & Patrick F. Maroney & Kathleen A. McCullough & James W. (Jay) Newman, Jr & Charles Nyce, 2011. "The Use of Postloss Financing of Catastrophic Risk," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 14(2), pages 265-298, September.

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