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Equilibrium Pricing of General Insurance Policies

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  • Paul Emms

Abstract

A model is developed for determining the price of general insurance policies in a competitive, noncooperative market. This model extends previous single-optimizer pricing models by supposing that each participant chooses an optimal pricing strategy. Specifically, prices are determined by finding a Nash equilibrium of an N-player differential game. In the game, a demand law describes the relationship between policy sales and premium, and each insurer aims to maximize its (expected) utility of wealth at the end of the planning horizon. Two features of the model are investigated in detail: the effect of limited total demand for policies, and the uncertainty in the calculation of the breakeven (or cost price) of an insurance policy.It is found that if the demand for policies is unlimited, then the equilibrium pricing strategy is identical for all insurers, and it can be found analytically for particular model parameterizations. However, if the demand for policies is limited, then, for entrants to a new line of business, there are additional asymmetric Nash equilibria with insurers alternating between maximal and minimal selling. Consequently it is proposed that the actuarial cycle is a result of price competition, limited demand, and entry of new insurers into the market. If the breakeven premium is highly volatile, then the symmetric equilibrium premium loading tends to a constant, and it is suggested that this will dampen the oscillatory pricing of new entrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Emms, 2012. "Equilibrium Pricing of General Insurance Policies," North American Actuarial Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 323-349.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:uaajxx:v:16:y:2012:i:3:p:323-349
    DOI: 10.1080/10920277.2012.10590645
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    Cited by:

    1. Asmussen, Søren & Christensen, Bent Jesper & Thøgersen, Julie, 2019. "Nash equilibrium premium strategies for push–pull competition in a frictional non-life insurance market," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 92-100.
    2. Claire Mouminoux & Christophe Dutang & Stéphane Loisel & Hansjoerg Albrecher, 2022. "On a Markovian Game Model for Competitive Insurance Pricing," Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 1061-1091, June.
    3. Mourdoukoutas, Fotios & Boonen, Tim J. & Koo, Bonsoo & Pantelous, Athanasios A., 2021. "Pricing in a competitive stochastic insurance market," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 44-56.
    4. Boonen, Tim J. & Pantelous, Athanasios A. & Wu, Renchao, 2018. "Non-cooperative dynamic games for general insurance markets," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 123-135.
    5. Søren Asmussen & Bent Jesper Christensen & Julie Thøgersen, 2019. "Stackelberg Equilibrium Premium Strategies for Push-Pull Competition in a Non-Life Insurance Market with Product Differentiation," Risks, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-23, May.

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