Mitigating Disaster Losses through Insurance

Howard Kunreuther

Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 1996, vol. 12, issue 2-3, 87 pages

Abstract: Losses from natural disasters have increased in recent years due to growth of population in hazard-prone areas and inadequate enforcement of building codes. This article first examines why homeowners have not voluntarily adopted cost-effective protective measures and have limited interest in purchasing insurance. It then proposes a disaster-management program which utilizes insurance coupled with well-enforced buildings codes to reduce future damage. Banks and financial institutions play a key role in this program by requiring inspections of homes as a condition for a mortgage. New forms of reinsurance coverage against catastrophic losses from natural disasters are necessary to protect insurers against potential insolvency from the next mega-disaster. Copyright 1996 by Kluwer Academic Publishers

Date: 1996
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