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On the uselessness of self-insurance clauses ?

Author

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  • Marielle Brunette

    (BETA - Bureau d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - UL - Université de Lorraine - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Stéphane Couture

    (MIAT INRA - Unité de Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées de Toulouse - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique)

  • Anne Corcos

    (LEMMA - Laboratoire d'économie mathématique et de microéconomie appliquée - UP2 - Université Panthéon-Assas)

  • Francois Pannequin

    (ENS Cachan - École normale supérieure - Cachan)

Abstract

An insurer can monitor the policyholder's prevention effort when it is observable ex-post by using a contract clause. The literature on insurance contracts does not explicitly address the role of contract clauses. We examine the role of such clauses in case of self-insurance. Because of the substitutability between insurance and self-insurance, contract clauses focused on self-insurance investments could cause a possible deterrent effect on insurance demand, highlighting their puzzling nature. In a theoretical model, we examine two arguments to overcome the compulsory self-insurance clause paradox: the observability of the self-insurance investment and the role of the self-insurance clause on insurance demand. The fact that self-insurance investments are not observable ex-ante cannot justify the use of a mandatory clause. Neither the demand for insurance nor the demand for prevention is observability-dependent. Therefore, self-insurance clauses are, at best, useless, at worst, counterproductive: when binding, they reduce the size of the insurance market.

Suggested Citation

  • Marielle Brunette & Stéphane Couture & Anne Corcos & Francois Pannequin, 2019. "On the uselessness of self-insurance clauses ?," Post-Print hal-02121860, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02121860
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02121860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dionne, Georges & Eeckhoudt, Louis, 1985. "Self-insurance, self-protection and increased risk aversion," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 17(1-2), pages 39-42.
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    5. Christophe Courbage, 2001. "Self-Insurance, Self-Protection and Market Insurance within the Dual Theory of Choice," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 26(1), pages 43-56, June.
    6. Steven Shavell, 1979. "On Moral Hazard and Insurance," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 93(4), pages 541-562.
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    Cited by:

    1. François Pannequin & Anne Corcos, 2023. "Risk Management and Public Policies: How prevention challenges monopolistic insurance markets," Documents de recherche 23-02, Centre d'Études des Politiques Économiques (EPEE), Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne.
    2. Pannequin, François & Corcos, Anne & Montmarquette, Claude, 2020. "Are insurance and self-insurance substitutes? An experimental approach," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 797-811.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    auto assurance; clause du contrat;

    JEL classification:

    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty

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