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An Experimental Study of the Full-Coverage Puzzle

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  • Itzhak Venezia
  • Zur Shapira

Abstract

One of the most intriguing questions in insurance is the preference of consumers to buy low or no deductible insurance policies. This stands in sharp contrast to the theorem, proved by Mossin, 1968, that when the price of insurance is higher than its actuarial value, then under quite reasonable assumptions full coverage is not optimal. We show in a set of experiments that amateur subjects tend to underestimate the value of a policy with a deductible and that the degree of underestimation depends on the level

Suggested Citation

  • Itzhak Venezia & Zur Shapira, 2003. "An Experimental Study of the Full-Coverage Puzzle," Yale School of Management Working Papers ysm335, Yale School of Management, revised 01 Apr 2003.
    • Handle: RePEc:ysm:somwrk:ysm335
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    File URL: http://icfpub.som.yale.edu/publications/2594
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    1. Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, 2013. "Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Leonard C MacLean & William T Ziemba (ed.), HANDBOOK OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING Part I, chapter 6, pages 99-127, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. MOSSIN, Jan, 1968. "Aspects of rational insurance purchasing," LIDAM Reprints CORE 23, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    3. Johnson, Eric J & Hershey, John & Meszaros, Jacqueline & Kunreuther, Howard, 1993. "Framing, Probability Distortions, and Insurance Decisions," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 35-51, August.
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