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Insuring Public Finances Against Natural Disasters: A Survey of Options and Recent Initiatives

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  • Mr. David J Hofman
  • Ms. Patricia A Brukoff

Abstract

Natural disasters can put severe strain on public finances, in particular in developing and small countries. But catastrophe insurance markets increasingly offer opportunities for the transfer of such risks. Thus far, developing countries have only tepidly begun to tap these opportunities. More frequent and intensive use of insurance markets may be desirable because it could help introduce an important element of predictability in the post-disaster public finances of disaster-prone developing countries. Against this background, the paper surveys the various available insurance modalities and reviews recent initiatives in developing and emerging market countries. It also identifies some key challenges for the insurance community, donors, and international financial institutions (IFIs).

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. David J Hofman & Ms. Patricia A Brukoff, 2006. "Insuring Public Finances Against Natural Disasters: A Survey of Options and Recent Initiatives," IMF Working Papers 2006/199, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2006/199
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gilberto Turati & Luigi Buzzacchi, 2009. "Optimal risk allocation in the provision of local public services: can a private insurer be better than a public mutual fund?," Working Papers 2009/21, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    2. Eduardo Borensztein & Eduardo Cavallo & Patricio Valenzuela, 2009. "Debt Sustainability Under Catastrophic Risk: The Case for Government Budget Insurance," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 12(2), pages 273-294, September.
    3. Gilberto Turati & Luigi Buzzacchi, 2009. "Optimal risk allocation in the provision of local public services: can a private insurer be better than a public mutual fund?," Working Papers 2009/21, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    4. Ghesquiere, Francis & Mahul, Olivier, 2007. "Sovereign natural disaster insurance for developing countries : a paradigm shift in catastrophe risk financing," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4345, The World Bank.
    5. Sommarat Chantarat & Krirk Pannangpetch & Nattapong Puttanapong & Preesan Rakwatin & Thanasin Tanompongphandh, 2015. "Index-Based Risk Financing and Development of Natural Disaster Insurance Programs in Developing Asian Countries," Risk, Governance and Society, in: Daniel P. Aldrich & Sothea Oum & Yasuyuki Sawada (ed.), Resilience and Recovery in Asian Disasters, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 171-200, Springer.
    6. Eduardo Cavallo & Ilan Noy, 2009. "The Economics of Natural Disasters - A Survey," Working Papers 200919, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.
    7. Eduardo Cavallo & Ilan Noy, 2010. "The Aftermath of Natural Disasters: Beyond Destruction," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 11(2), pages 25-35, July.
    8. Mahul, Olivier & Gurenko, Eugene, 2006. "The macro financing of natural hazards in developing countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4075, The World Bank.
    9. Eduardo Cavallo & Ilan Noy, 2010. "The Aftermath of Natural Disasters: Beyond Destruction," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 11(02), pages 25-35, July.
    10. Jerry R. Skees & Barry J. Barnett & Anne G. Murphy, 2008. "Creating insurance markets for natural disaster risk in lower income countries: the potential role for securitization," Agricultural Finance Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 68(1), pages 151-167, May.
    11. Bourdeau-Brien, Michael & Kryzanowski, Lawrence, 2019. "Municipal financing costs following disasters," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 48-64.
    12. Unterberger, Christian & Hudson, Paul & Botzen, W.J. Wouter & Schroeer, Katharina & Steininger, Karl W., 2019. "Future Public Sector Flood Risk and Risk Sharing Arrangements: An Assessment for Austria," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 153-163.
    13. Tito Cordella & Eduardo Levy Yeyati, 2015. "CATalytic insurance: the case of natural disasters," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 31(3-4), pages 330-349.
    14. Eduardo A. Cavallo & Patricio Valenzuela & Eduardo Borensztein, 2007. "La Sostenibilidad de Deuda frente a Riesgo de Catastrofes Naturales," Research Department Publications 4523, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    15. Sommarat Chantarat, 2015. "Index-based Risk Financing and Development of Natural Disaster Insurance Programs in Developing Countries," PIER Discussion Papers 10., Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, revised Nov 2015.
    16. Luigi Buzzacchi & Gilberto Turati, 2014. "Optimal Risk Allocation in the Provision of Local Public Services: Can a Private Insurer be Better Than a Federal Relief Fund?," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 60(4), pages 747-779.
    17. Sommarat Chantarat, 2015. "Index-based Risk Financing and Development of Natural Disaster Insurance Programs in Developing Countries," PIER Discussion Papers 10, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
    18. Carmen Altés, 2008. "Turismo y desarrollo en México," Research Department Publications 2008, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    19. Wenzel, Lars & Wolf, André, 2013. "Protection against major catastrophes: An economic perspective," HWWI Research Papers 137, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    20. Asian Development Bank Institute, 2017. "Risk Financing for Rural Climate Resilience in the Greater Mekong Subregion," Working Papers id:11761, eSocialSciences.
    21. Endah Saptutyningsih & Suryanto, 2011. "Hedonic price approach of flood effect on agricultural land," Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, Universitas Islam Indonesia, vol. 3(1), pages 87-96, April.

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