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Demand heterogeneity for index-based insurance: The case for flexible products

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  • Ceballos, Francisco
  • Robles, Miguel

Abstract

A substantial literature has analyzed the challenges around weather index insurance, yet an important design issue has been generally overlooked. Most index insurance products have so far been characterized by a one-size-fits-all payout structure, intended for a representative farmer, at the cost of ignoring considerable heterogeneity in risk profiles. This paper provides unique evidence on the ways in which heterogeneity in farmers’ risk exposure affects their demand for insurance. We analyze a set of flexible insurance products against excess rainfall and exploit the substantial variation in insurance portfolios demanded by farmers. We explore the relevance of alternative sources of heterogeneity by extending a simple expected utility decision model and relying on structural estimation to test their significance. We find important aspects of farmer heterogeneity directly affecting their demand for insurance. We quantify the benefits of a flexible scheme by comparing farmer welfare to that achieved under alternative counterfactual insurance options.

Suggested Citation

  • Ceballos, Francisco & Robles, Miguel, 2020. "Demand heterogeneity for index-based insurance: The case for flexible products," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:146:y:2020:i:c:s0304387820300900
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2020.102515
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    Cited by:

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    3. Shin, Soye & Magnan, Nicholas & Mullally, Conner & Janzen, Sarah, 2022. "Demand for Weather Index Insurance among Smallholder Farmers under Prospect Theory," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 82-104.
    4. Hample, Kelsey C, 2021. "Formal insurance for the informally insured: Experimental evidence from Kenya," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    5. Jose Cobian & Budy P. Resosudarmo & Alin Halimatussadiah & Susan Olivia, 2022. "Demand for index-based flood insurance in Jakarta, Indonesia," Departmental Working Papers 2022-12, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    6. Schwab, Benjamin & Yu, Jisang, 2022. "Guaranteed Storage? Risk and Credit Constraints in the Demand for Postharvest Technology and Rice Seed Storage Decisions in Bangladesh," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322475, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Nataliya Vnukova & Daria Davydenko & Svitlana Achkasova & Olexandr Yagolnitskyi, 2022. "Assessing the Activities of Insurance Companies Due to the Disease of Private Pension," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 5, pages 179-194.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Weather index insurance; Flexible insurance; Multiple discreteness; Farmer heterogeneity; Structural estimation; Uruguay;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q14 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Finance

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