Skip to main content

Going Forward: Building Resilience with Microinsurance

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Contributions to Economics ((CE))

Abstract

This chapter will highlight and discuss important results and conclusions from the theoretical and empirical analysis. These include the role of individual behaviour in decision-making processes, substitutes to microinsurance and the possible benefits of insurance for prevention and productivity, as well as the future of microinsurance and a commentary on disaster risk management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Almost three quarters (74.2%) of respondents in rural Cambodia stated that they would increase their production or try new crops with higher returns if they would have insurance against flood damage. However, during the survey the questions were asked with no further information provided regarding the insurance design and cannot be validated in a real-world situation.

  2. 2.

    The response-orientated view of disaster risk management is reflected in international disaster aid allocation (Mochizuki et al. 2015). From 1990 to 2010, Cambodia received in total USD785.4 million, whereof 54.9% was used for emergency response and 34.8% for reconstruction and rehabilitation; only 10.2% of international disaster aid was used for disaster preparedness and prevention (AidData 2016).

  3. 3.

    In this context, Mochizuki et al. (2015) discuss an iterative risk management approach which promotes risk-sensitive investment decisions, development strategies and an adjustment of these policies in the light of new data and information, despite remaining uncertainty about future disaster occurrences and impacts. Efforts must be made to remove cognitive, economic and institutional barriers in Cambodia (Mochizuki et al. 2015).

References

  • AidData (2016) Disaster aid tracking. http://gfdrr.aiddata.org/. Accessed 22 Mar 2016

  • Albarran P, Attanasio OP (2005) Do public transfers crowd out private transfers? Evidence from a randomized experiment in Mexico. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 281–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Arshad M, Amjath-Babu TS, Kðchele H, Mﺰller K (2016) What drives the willingness to pay for crop insurance against extreme weather events (flood and drought) in Pakistan? A hypothetical market approach. Clim Dev 8:234–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Awel YM, Azomahou TT (2014) Productivity and welfare effects of weather index insurance: quasi-experimental evidence. Maastricht

    Google Scholar 

  • Botero F, Churchill C, McCord MJ, Qureshi Z (2006) The future of microinsurance. In: Churchill C (ed) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium. Munich, Geneva, pp 583–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Brata AG, Rietveld P, de Groot HLF et al (2014) Living with the Merapi Volcano: risks and disaster microinsurance. ANU Working Papers in Trade and Development 13, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouwer R, Tinh BD, Tuan TH et al (2013) Modeling demand for catastrophic flood risk insurance in coastal zones in Vietnam using choice experiments. Environ Dev Econ 19:228–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron L, Shah M (2015) Risk-taking behavior in the wake of natural disasters. Hum Resour 50:484–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter M, De Janvry A, Sadoulet E, Sarris A (2014) Index-based weather insurance for developing countries: a review of evidence and a set of propositions for up-scaling. FERDI, AFD, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassar A, Healy A, von Kessler C (2012) Trust, risk, and time preferences after a natural disaster: experimental evidence from Thailand. University of San Francisco, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee A (2012) Access to insurance and financial-sector regulation. In: Churchill C, Matul M (eds) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium, vol II. Munich, Geneva, pp 548–572

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chhibber A, Laajaj R (2013) The interlinkages between natural disasters and economic development. In: Guha-Sapir D, Santos I (eds) The economic impacts of natural disasters. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 28–56

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill C, Garand D (2006) Strategies for sustainability. In: Churchill C (ed) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium. Munich, Geneva, pp 564–582

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke D, Dercon S (2009) Insurance, credit and safety nets for the poor in a world of risk. UN/DESA Working Paper 81, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke DJ, Grenham D (2013) Microinsurance and natural disasters: challenges and options. Environ Sci Policy 27:S89–S98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen M, Sebstad J (2005) Reducing vulnerability: the demand for microinsurance. J Int Dev 17:397–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole S, Giné X, Tobacman J et al (2013) Barriers to household risk management: evidence from India. Am Econ J Appl Econ 5:104–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dao HTT, Van Tai L (2014) Agriculture insurance market development—the role of Vietnam government. Int J Econ Commer Manag II:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bock O, Gelade W (2012) The demand for microinsurance: a literature review. Microinsurance Innovation Facility Research Paper 26, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bock O, Ontiveros DU (2013) Literature review on the impact of microinsurance. Microinsurance Innovation Facility Research Paper 35, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • de Weerdt J (2005) Risk-sharing and endogenous network formation. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 197–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Deblon Y, Loewe M (2012) The potential of microinsurance for social protection. In: Churchill C, Matul M (eds) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium, vol II. Munich, Geneva, pp 40–58

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dercon S (2002) Income risk, coping strategies, and safety nets. World Bank Res Obs 17:141–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dercon S (2005a) Risk, poverty, and public action. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 439–450

    Google Scholar 

  • Dercon S (2005b) Overview. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Dercon S, Hill RV, Clarke D et al (2014) Offering rainfall insurance to informal insurance groups: evidence from a field experiment in Ethiopia. J Dev Econ 106:132–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckel CC, El-Gamal MA, Wilson RK (2009) Risk loving after the storm: a Bayesian-network study of Hurricane Katrina evacuees. J Econ Behav Organ 69:110–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eling M, Pradhan S, Schmit JT (2014) The determinants of microinsurance demand. Geneva Pap Risk Insur Issues Pract 39:224–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming DA, Chong A, Bejarano HD (2014) Trust and reciprocity in the aftermath of natural disasters. J Dev Stud 50:1482–1493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gehrke E (2014) The insurability framework applied to agricultural microinsurance: what do we know, what can we learn? Geneva Pap Risk Insur Issues Pract 39:264–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • General Directorate of Agriculture (2013) Plan of action for disaster risk reduction in agriculture 2014-2018. Kingdom of Cambodia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Phnom Penh

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein M, de Janvry A, Sadoulet E (2005) Is a friend in need a friend indeed? Inclusions and exclusion in mutual insurance networks in Southern Ghana. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 217–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Grislain-Letrémy C (2015) Natural disasters: exposure and underinsurance. CREST, Paris-Dauphine University, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo W (2015) Farmers’ perception of climate change and willingness to pay for weather—Index Insurance in Bahunepati, Nepal

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallegatte S (2012) An exploration of the link between development, economic growth, and natural risk. The World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 6216, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallegatte S, Bangalore M, Bonzanigo L et al (2016) Shock waves: managing the impacts of climate change on poverty. The World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazell P, Anderson J, Balzer N et al (2010) The potential for scale and sustainability in weather index insurance for agriculture and rural livelihoods. World Food Programme, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochrainer-Stigler S, Sharma RB, Mechler R (2012) Disaster microinsurance for pro-poor risk management: evidence from South Asia. J Integr Disaster Risk Manag 2:70–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingwersen N (2014) Impact of a natural disaster on observed risk aversion. Duke University, Durham

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2012) Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation. In: A special report of working groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part A: global and sectoral aspects. In: Contribution of working group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacquier C, Ramm G, Marcadent P, Schmitt-Diabate V (2006) The social protection perspective on microinsurance. In: Churchill C (ed) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium. Munich, Geneva, pp 45–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalan J, Ravallion M (2005) Household income dynamics in Rural China. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 107–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Jowett M (2003) Do informal risk sharing networks crowd out public voluntary health insurance? Evidence from Vietnam. Appl Econ 35:1153–1161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman D, Tversky A (1979) Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica 47:263–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karim A, Noy I (2016) Poverty and natural disasters – a qualitative survey of the empirical literature. Singapore Econ Rev 61:1640001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karlan D, Osei R, Osei-Akoto I, Udry C (2014) Agricultural decisions after relaxing credit and risk constraints. Q J Econ 129:597–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellenberg DK, Mobarak AM (2008) Does rising income increase or decrease damage risk from natural disasters? J Urban Econ 63:788–802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kousky C (2012) Informing climate adaptation: a review of the economic costs of natural disasters, their determinants, and risk reduction options. Resources for the Future Discussion Paper, Washington, DC, pp 12–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Lensink R, Servin R, van den Berg M (2015) Do savings and credit institutions reduce vulnerability? New evidence from Mexico

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnerooth-Bayer J, Hochrainer-Stigler S (2015) Financial instruments for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. Clim Change 133:85–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linnerooth-Bayer J, Mechler R, Hochrainer-Stigler S (2011) Insurance against losses from natural disasters in developing countries. Evidence, gaps and the way forward. J Integr Disaster Risk Manag 1:59–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Tang Y, Miranda MJ (2015) Does past experience in natural disasters affect willingness-to-pay for weather Index Insurance? Evidence from China. In: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association annual meeting 2015, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd’s and Microinsurance Centre (2009) Insurance in developing countries: exploring opportunities in microinsurance. Lloyd’s and Microinsurance Centre, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Loewenstein GF, Weber EU, Hsee CK, Welch N (2001) Risk as feelings. Psychol Bull 127:267–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loster T, Reinhard D (2012) Microinsurance and climate change. In: Churchill C, Matul M (eds) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium, vol II. Munich, Geneva, pp 83–111

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mechler R, Linnerooth-Bayer J, Peppiatt D (2006) Disaster insurance for the poor? A review of microinsurance. ProVention, IIASA, Geneva, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Mechler R, Hochrainer S, Pflug G, et al (2010) Assessing the financial vulnerability to climate-related natural hazards. The World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 5232, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell T, Mechler R, Peters K (2014) Disaster risk management and adaptation to extreme events. In: Markandya A, Galarraga I, de Murieta ES (eds) Routledge handbook of the economics of climate change adaptation. Routledge, London, pp 417–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Mobarak AM, Rosenzweig M (2012) Selling formal insurance to the informally insured. Economic Growth Center Discussion Paper 1007, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Mochizuki J, Vitoontus S, Wickramarachchi B et al (2015) Operationalizing iterative risk management under limited information: fiscal and economic risks due to natural disasters in Cambodia. Int J Disaster Risk Sci 6:321–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morsink K (2012) Weathering the storm: the demand for and impact of microinsurance in Africa. University of Twente

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosley P (2009) Assessing the success of microinsurance programmes in meeting the insurance needs of the poor. UN/DESA Working Paper 84, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • National Committee for Disaster Management (2008) Strategic national action plan for disaster risk reduction 2008-2013. Kingdom of Cambodia, Ministry of Planning, Phnom Penh

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen M-H, Reynaud A, Thomas A, Thanh ND (2012) Do natural disasters modify individual preferences: evidences from a field experiment in Vietnam. School of Economics, Toulouse

    Google Scholar 

  • Outreville JF (2013) The relationship between insurance and economic development: 85 empirical papers for a review of the literature. Risk Manag Insur Rev 16:71–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oviedo AM, Moroz H (2014) A review of the ex post and ex ante impacts of risk. Background Paper for the World Development report, The World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Page L, Savage DA, Torgler B (2014) Variation in risk seeking behaviour following large losses: a natural experiment. Eurasian Econ Rev 71:121–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pat-Horenczyk R, Peled O, Miron T et al (2007) Risk-taking behaviors among Israeli adolescents exposed to recurrent terrorism: provoking danger under continuous threat? Am J Psychiatry 164:66–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radermacher R, McGowan H, Dercon S (2012) What is the impact of microinsurance? In: Churchill C, Matul M (eds) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium, vol II. Munich, Geneva, pp 59–82

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhard D, Qureshi Z (2013) How to provide sustainable insurance for low-income. I-VW-HSG Trendmonitor, pp 13–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruchismita R, Churchill C (2012) State and market synergies: insights from India’s microinsurance success. In: Churchill C, Matul M (eds) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium, vol II. Munich, Geneva, pp 427–463

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sadoulet L (2005) Learning from visa? Incoporating insurance provision in microfinance contracts. In: Dercon S (ed) Insurance against poverty. UNU-WIDER Studies in Development Economics/Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 387–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Said F, Afzal U, Turner G (2014) Attitudes towards risk in the wake of a rare event: evidence from Pakistan. CREB Working Paper 02-14, Lahore

    Google Scholar 

  • Skees JR (2008) Innovations in Index Insurance for the poor in lower income countries. Agric Resour Econ Rev 1:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Summer A (2013) Disaster resilience in a poverty reduction goal. In: Mitchell T, Jones L, Comba E, Lovell E (eds) Disaster risk management in post-2015 development goals. Overseas Development Institute, London, pp 57–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Surminski S, Oramas-Dorta D (2014) Flood insurance schemes and climate adaptation in developing countries. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 7:154–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swain M (2015) Performance of crop yield and rainfall insurance schemes in Odisha: some empirical findings. Agric Econ Res Rev 28:201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Royal Society (2014) Resilience to extreme weather. The Royal Society, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Trommershäuser S, Lindenthal R, Krech R (2006) The promotional role of governments. In: Churchill C (ed) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium. Munich, Geneva, pp 508–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner G, Said F, Afzal U (2014) Microinsurance demand after a rare flood event: evidence from a field experiment in Pakistan. Geneva Pap Risk Insur Issues Pract 39:201–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNDP (2013) Microinsurance study: the understanding and needs of low-income populations regarding microinsurance. United Nations Development Programme, Phnom Penh

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Berg M, Fort R, Burger K (2009) Natural hazards and risk aversion: experimental evidence from Latin America. In: International Association of Agricultural Economists conference, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Wingerden LA, Brouwer JH (2014) Is the time right for agricultural micro insurance in Cambodia? A scoping study for Achmea. Wageningen, Centre for Development Innovation

    Google Scholar 

  • Vathana S, Oum S, Kan P, Chervier C (2013) Impact of disasters and role of social protection in natural disaster risk management in Cambodia. ERIA Discussion Paper 2013-10, Jakarta

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber EU, Johnson EJ (2012) Psychology and behavioral economics lessons for the design of a green growth strategy. The World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 6240, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiedmaier-Pfister M, Chatterjee A (2006) An enabling regulatory environment for microinsurance. In: Churchill C (ed) Protecting the poor—a microinsurance compendium. Munich, Geneva, pp 488–507

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2013) World development report 2014: risk and opportunity—managing risk for development. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, National Hydrological and Meteorological Services, et al (2013) Country assessment report for Cambodia—strengthening of hydrometeorological services in Southeast Asia. Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fiala, O. (2017). Going Forward: Building Resilience with Microinsurance. In: Natural Disasters and Individual Behaviour in Developing Countries. Contributions to Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53904-1_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics