Loss Aversion And The Demand For Index Insurance

Immanuel Lampe () and Daniel Würtenberger

No 1907, Working Papers on Finance from University of St. Gallen, School of Finance

Abstract: This work analyzes if reference dependence and loss aversion can explainthe puzzling low adoption rates of rainfall index insurance. We present a model that predicts the impact of loss aversion on index insurance demand to vary with different levels of insurance understanding. Index insurance demand of farmers who are unaware of the loss-hedging benefit that insurance provides decreases with loss aversion. In contrast, insurance demand of farmers who are aware of the loss-hedging benefit increases with loss aversion. The model further predicts that farmers who are unaware of the loss-hedging benefit will not demand an even highly subsidized index insurance. Using data from a randomized controlled trial involving a sample of Indian farmers we provide empirical support for our core conjecture that insurance understanding mitigates the negative impact of loss aversion on index insurance adoption.

Keywords: Prospect Theory; Reference Dependence; Microinsurance; Farm Household (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 G22 Q12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 80 pages
Date: 2019-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-ias, nep-mfd, nep-rmg and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:usg:sfwpfi:2019:07

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