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Separation of Ownership and Management: Implications for Risk‐Taking Behavior

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  • Cassandra R. Cole
  • Enya He
  • Kathleen A. McCullough
  • David W. Sommer

Abstract

Issues associated with the relation between the separation of ownership and management and risk‐taking behavior have been considered in an array of studies, with varying results. Due to the wide variety of ownership structures present, the property–casualty insurance industry provides an excellent setting to test the conflicting hypotheses related to separation of ownership from management and risk taking behavior. Employing a large sample of property–liability insurance companies over the period of 1996–2004, we empirically test the alternative hypotheses regarding the implications of separation of ownership from management for firms’ risk taking behavior. The empirical tests include the ownership structures specified in prior research as well as a more detailed classification scheme. We find that each ownership structure is significantly different from every other ownership structure in terms of risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Cassandra R. Cole & Enya He & Kathleen A. McCullough & David W. Sommer, 2011. "Separation of Ownership and Management: Implications for Risk‐Taking Behavior," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 14(1), pages 49-71, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rmgtin:v:14:y:2011:i:1:p:49-71
    DOI: j.1540-6296.2010.01192.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Hu, Jin-Li & Yu, Hsueh-E, 2014. "Risk management in life insurance companies: Evidence from Taiwan," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 185-199.
    3. Pier Luigi Marchini & Veronica Tibiletti & Alice Medioli & Gianluca Gabrielli, 2021. "Corporate Ownership Structure as a Determinant of “Risk Taking”: Insights from Italian Listed Companies," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(11), pages 138-138, July.
    4. Sun, Liang & Yu, Huaibing, 2022. "The effects of busy board on firm’s probability to pay dividends," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Chia-Ling Ho & Gene Lai & Sangyong Han & Licheng Jin, 2022. "Organisational structure, corporate governance and reinsurance decisions in the U.S. property-liability insurance industry," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 47(4), pages 737-784, October.
    6. Braun, Alexander & Schmeiser, Hato & Rymaszewski, Przemysław, 2015. "Stock vs. mutual insurers: Who should and who does charge more?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(3), pages 875-889.
    7. Rubio-Misas, María, 2020. "Ownership structure and financial stability: Evidence from Takaful and conventional insurance firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    8. Volker Stein & Arnd Wiedemann, 2016. "Risk governance: conceptualization, tasks, and research agenda," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 86(8), pages 813-836, November.
    9. Abdul Latif Alhassan & Nicholas Biekpe, 2018. "Competition and Risk-Taking Behaviour in the Non-Life Insurance Market in South Africa," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 43(3), pages 492-519, July.

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