Catastrophe insurance and solvency regulation

Abstract Solvency regulation can prevent insurers from making decisions that are detrimental to policyholders. However, it can also discourage the purchase of insurance for catastrophic risks by causing prohibitive insurance loading due to high reinsurance coverage constraints. This paper examines this delicate trade-off. We show that a solvency regulation allowing some level of insurer default in catastrophic states can be a first-best policy. The default rate of this first-best policy varies depending on the risk line and market conditions. Our numerical simulations indicate that it is possible to closely approximate the first-best policy by implementing a straightforward solvency regulation, considering insurers’ Expected Shortfall and Value at Risk, the reinsurance loading, and policyholders’ risk aversion. Therefore, reforming current solvency regulations in this direction could improve policyholders’ welfare.