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Tontine Insurance and the Armstrong Investigation: A Case of Stifled Innovation, 1868–1905

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  • Ransom, Roger L.
  • Sutch, Richard

Abstract

Tontine insurance, introduced in 1868, combined the features of life insurance with an unusual old-age saving plan. A portion of the annual premium was accumulated in a fund that was divided among the surviving policyholders after twenty years. By 1905, two-thirds of all life insurance in force was of this type. Despite consumer appeal, sales of tontine policies were prohibited in 1906 after the Armstrong Investigation charged the tontine business with corruption and extravagance. We argue that tontine insurance was actuarially sound and an attractive life-cycle investment. Prohibition was probably unnecessary.

Suggested Citation

  • Ransom, Roger L. & Sutch, Richard, 1987. "Tontine Insurance and the Armstrong Investigation: A Case of Stifled Innovation, 1868–1905," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(2), pages 379-390, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:47:y:1987:i:02:p:379-390_04
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    Cited by:

    1. Lange, Andreas & List, John A. & Price, Michael K., 2007. "A fundraising mechanism inspired by historical tontines: Theory and experimental evidence," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(9), pages 1750-1782, September.
    2. Milevsky, Moshe A. & Salisbury, Thomas S., 2015. "Optimal retirement income tontines," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 91-105.
    3. Harmincova, Zuzana & Janda, Karel, 2014. "Microfinance around the world – regional SWOT analysis," MPRA Paper 58171, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Yikang Li & Casey Rothschild, 2020. "Selection and Redistribution in the Irish Tontines of 1773, 1775, and 1777," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 87(3), pages 719-750, September.
    5. Williamson, Samuel H., 1995. "The development of industrial pensions in the United States in the twentieth century," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1542, The World Bank.
    6. Moshe A. Milevsky & Thomas S. Salisbury, 2024. "The Riccati Tontine: How to Satisfy Regulators on Average," Papers 2402.14555, arXiv.org.
    7. Lin He & Zongxia Liang & Sheng Wang, 2022. "Modern Tontine with Transaction Costs," Papers 2209.09709, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2023.
    8. Chulhee Lee, 2004. "Intra-household transfers and old-age security in America, 1890-1950," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 79-102.
    9. Mary T. Rodgers & James E. Payne, 2020. "Post‐financial crisis changes in financial system structure: An examination of the J.P. Morgan & Co. Syndicates after the 1907 Panic," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(S1), pages 226-241, March.

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