A Simple Test of Private Information in the Insurance Markets with Heterogeneous Insurance Demand

Li Gan (), Feng Huang and Adalbert Mayer ()

No 16738, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: A positive correlation between insurance coverage and ex post risk can be an indicator for private information in insurance markets. However, this test fails if agents have heterogeneous risk attitudes. We propose a new test that conditions on unobserved types of individuals who differ in their risks preferences. This makes it possible to detect asymmetric information without direct evidence of private information - even if agents have heterogeneous risk attitudes. We apply our technique to the market for long-term care insurance. Finkelstein and McGarry (2006) provide direct evidence for the existence of private information in this market. At the same time they fail to find a positive correlation between insurance coverage and ex post risk. Our method indicates the existence of private information, without using direct evidence of private information. Our methodology is applicable to other insurance markets and markets where proxies for private information are not available.

JEL-codes: D82 G22 I11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-01
Note: AG EH
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Published as Li Gan & Feng Huang & Adalbert Mayer, 2015. "A simple test for private information in insurance markets with heterogeneous insurance demand," Economics Letters, vol 136, pages 197-200.

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