Skip to main content

Analysing the Technical Efficiency and Productivity Change of Life Insurance Companies in India

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Life Insurance Industry in India

Abstract

This chapter analyses technical efficiency of the Indian life insurance industry comprising 13 life insurance companies for the period 2002–2003 to 2014–2015. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is employed to measure technical efficiency, and Malmquist productivity index is used to measure productivity change. The results imply that deregulatory efforts might have had only marginal effect on productivity and efficiency of the Indian life insurance industry.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 59.99
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

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Banker, R. D., Charnes, A., and Cooper, W. W. (1984), “Some Models for Estimating Technical and Scale Inefficiencies in Data Envelopment Analysis”, Management Science, Vol. 30, Issue 9, pp. 1078–1092.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banker, R. D., Chang, H. and Cooper, W. W. (1996), “Equivalence and Implementation of Alternative Methods for Determining Returns to Scale in Data Envelopment Analysis”, European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 88, pp. 473–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caves, D. W., Christensen, L. R. and Diewert, W. E. (1982), “The Theory of Index Numbers and Measurement of Input, Output, and Productivity”, Econometrica, Vol. 50, Issue 6 (Nov 1982), 1393–1414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty, J. and Sengupta, P. P. (2012), “Measuring Performance Growth of the Selected Indian Life Insurance Companies: A Total Factor Productivity Approach”, Arth Prabhand – A Journal of Economics and Management, Vol. 1 Issue: 6, pp. 2278–2629.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty, K., Dutta, A. and Sengupta, P. P. (2012), “Efficiency and Productivity of Indian Life Insurance Industry”, Asia-Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance, Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Dec 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  • Charnes, A., Cooper, W. W. and Rhodes, E. (1978), “Measuring the Efficiency of Decision Making Units”, European Journal of Operational Research, Volume 2, Issue 6 (Nov 1978), pp. 429–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coelli, T. J., Rao, D. S. P., O’Donnell, C. J. and Battese, G. E. (2005), An Introduction to Efficiency and Productivity Analysis, 2nd Edition. New York: Springer Publications, US.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, W. W., Seiford, L. M. A. and Tone, K. (2007). “Data Envelopment Analysis: A Comprehensive Text with Models, Applications, References and DEA-Solver Software”, Springer Books, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. D., Tennyson, S. and Weiss, M. A. (1999), “Consolidation and Efficiency in the US Life Insurance Industry”, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 23, Issues 2–4, pp. 325–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. D. and Misas, M. R. (2006), “Deregulation, Consolidation, and Efficiency: Evidence from the Spanish Insurance Industry”, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Vol. 38, Issue 2, pp. 323–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. D. and Xie, X. (2008), “Mergers and acquisitions in the US property-liability insurance industry: Productivity and efficiency effects”, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 32, pp. 30–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. D. and Zi, H. (1998), “Comparison of Frontier Efficiency Methods: An Application to the U.S. Life Insurance Industry”, Journal of Productivity Analysis, Vol. 10, Issue 2 (Oct 1998), pp. 131–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debreu, G. (1951), “The Coefficient of Resource Utilization”, Econometrica, Vol. 19, No. 3 (July 1951), pp. 273–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donni, O., and Fecher, F. (1997), “Efficiency and Productivity of the Insurance Industry in the OECD Countries”. Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, Vol. 22, Issue 84, pp. 523–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutta A. and Sengupta P. P. (2011), “Efficiency Measurement of Indian Life Insurance Industry in Post-Reforms Era”. Global Business Review, Vol. 12, No. 3 (October 2011), pp. 415–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eling, M., and Luhnen, M. (2008), “Frontier Efficiency Methodologies to Measure Performance in the Insurance Industry: Overview and New Empirical Evidence”, University of St. Gallen Working Papers on Risk Management and Insurance, Paper No. 56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Norris, M., and Zhang, Z. (1994), “Productivity Growth, Technical Progress, and Efficiency Change in Industrialized Countries”, The American Economic Review, Vol. 84, Issue 1 (Mar 1994), pp. 66–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, M. J. (1957). “The Measurement of Productive Efficiency”, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A (General), Vol. 120, Issue 3, pp. 253–290, Blackwell Publishing for the Royal Statistical Society.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene, W. H., and Segal, D. (2004), “Profitability and Efficiency in the U.S. Life Insurance Industry”, Journal of Productivity Analysis, Vol. 21, Issue 3, pp. 229–247, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao, C. J. J., & Chou, L. Y. (2005), “The Estimation of Efficiency for Life Insurance Industry: The Case in Taiwan”, Journal of Asian Economics, Vol 16, Issue 5, pp. 847–860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, W. (2007), “Efficiency in the China Insurance Industry, 1999–2004”, Wuhan University, University of Toronto, pp. 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khalid, A. A., Gattoufi, S., & Muharrami, S. A. (2012), “Analyzing the Technical Efficiency of Insurance Companies in GCC”, The Journal of Risk Finance, Vol. 13, Issue 4, pp. 362–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, P. C., and Mitra, D. (2012), “A Study on Technical Efficiency of Life Insurance Companies operating in India in the post Liberalised regime – A Dynamic Panel Approach”, Shortlisted Papers for BBAY Award-IV – Insurance Business: Issues & Perspective, Indian Commerce Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klopp, G. (1985), “The Analysis of the Efficiency of Production System with Multiple Inputs and Outputs”, PhD thesis (University of Illinois at Chicago, Industrial and Systems Engineering College).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, H. D., Lee, Y. H., & Shih, M. L. (2009), “A Study on Technical Efficiency and Productivity Changes of Taiwan’s Life Insurance Industry”, pp. 1–8, www.jgbm.org/page/10%20Meng-Long%20Shih.pdf.

  • Nandi, J. K. 2014, “Relative Efficiency Analysis of Selected Life Insurers in India using Data Envelopment Analysis”, Pacific Business Review International, Vol. 6, Issue 8 (Feb 2014), pp. 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noronh, M. R., and Shinde, S. R. (2012), “A Comparative Study of Cost Efficiency of Life Insurance Companies in India”, Ganpat University- Faculty of Management Studies Journal, 4, (January–June, 2012), pp. 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parida, T. K. (2015), “Life Insurance in India: Competition, Efficiency, and Regulation”, PhD thesis submitted to and approved by the University of Hyderabad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiu, S., and Chen, B. (2006), “Efficiencies of Life Insurers in China: An Application of DEA”, www.cicfconf.org/past/cicf2006/cicf2006paper/20060130033345.pdf.

  • Rai, A. (1996), “Cost Efficiency of International Insurance Firms”, Journal of Financial Services Research, Vol. 10, pp. 213–233, (Kluwer Academic Publishers).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saad, N. M., and Idris, N. E. H. (2011), “Efficiency of Life Insurance Companies in Malaysia and Brunei: A Comparative Analysis”, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 1, Issue 3, pp. 111–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiford, L. M. (1997), “A Bibliography for Data Envelopment Analysis (1978–1996)”, Annals of Operations Research, Vol. 73, October 1997, pp. 393–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, R. P. (2007), “Premium Income of Indian Life Insurance Industry: A Total Factor Productivity Approach”, The IUP Journal of Financial Economics, Vol. V, Issue 2, pp. 61–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, R. P. (2010), Revenue Maximizing Efficiency of Life Insurance Companies: Some Indian Evidence, The IUP Journal of Risk & Insurance Vol. VII, Issue 3 (July 2010), pp. 19–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, R. P. and Chatterjee, B. (2009), “Are Indian Life Insurance Companies Cost Efficient?”, Conference Proceedings, pp. 1–10, 11th Money & Finance Conference, IGIDR, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1391904.

  • Tone, K. (2002), “A Strange case of the Cost and Allocative Efficiencies in DEA”, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 53, Issue 11 (November 2002), pp. 1225–1231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tone, K., and Sahoo, B. K. (2005), “Evaluating Cost Efficiency and Returns to Scale in the Life Insurance Corporation of India using Data Envelopment Analysis”, Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Vol. 39, Issue 4 (December 2005), pp. 261–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, M. A., and Cummins, J. D. (1991), “Analyzing Firm Performance in the Insurance Industry Using Frontier Efficiency Methods”, The Wharton School Center for Financial Institutions, University of Pennsylvania, Working Papers No. 98–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuengert, A. M. (1993), The Measurement of Efficiency in Life Insurance: Estimates of a Mixed Normal-Gamma Error Model, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 17, Issue 2 (February 1993), pp. 483–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Appendix: Sample of Life Insurance Companies

Appendix: Sample of Life Insurance Companies

S. no.

Insurers

Foreign partners

Date of registration

Year of operation

Head office

1

Life Insurance Corporation of India

1.9.1956

1956–1957

Mumbai

2

HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Standard Life Assurance, UK

23.10.2000

2000–2001

Mumbai

3

Max Life Insurance Company Ltd.

New York Life, USA

15.11.2000

2000–2001

Gurgaon

4

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Prudential Plc, UK

24.11.2000

2000–2001

Mumbai

5

Kotak Mahindra OM Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Old Mutual, South Africa

10.1.2001

2001–2002

Mumbai

6

Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Sun Life, Canada

31.1.2001

2000–2001

Mumbai

7

TATA AIA Life Insurance Company Ltd.

American International Assurance Co., USA

12.2.2001

2001–2002

Mumbai

8

SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd.

BNP Paribas Assurance SA, France

29.3.2001

2001–2002

Mumbai

9

Exide Life Insurance Company Ltd.

02.8.2001

2001–2002

Bangalore

10

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Allianz, Germany

03.8.2001

2001–2002

Pune

11

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Ltd.

MetLife International Holdings Ltd., USA

06.8.2001

2001–2002

Bangalore

12

Reliance Life Insurance Company Ltd.

03.1.2002

2001–2002

Mumbai

13

Aviva Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Aviva International Holdings Ltd., UK

14.5.2002

2002–2003

Gurgaon

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Parida, T.K., Acharya, D. (2017). Analysing the Technical Efficiency and Productivity Change of Life Insurance Companies in India. In: The Life Insurance Industry in India. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2233-3_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2233-3_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-2232-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-2233-3

  • eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics