Standards often remain unseen, yet they play a fundamental part in the organisation of contemporary capitalism and society at large. What form of power do they epitomise? Why have they become so prominent? Are they set to be as important for the globalisation of services as for manufactured goods? Graz draws on international political economy and cognate fields to present strong theoretical arguments, compelling research and surprising evidence on the role of standards in the global expansion of services, with in-depth studies of their institutional environment and cases including the insurance industry and business process outsourcing in India. The power of standards resembles a form of transnational hybrid authority, in which ambiguity should be seen as a generic attribute, defining not only the status of public and private actors involved in standardisation and regulation, but also the scope of issues concerned and the space in which such authority is recognised when complying to standards. This book is also available as Open Access.

Why do people buy health insurance? Conventional theory holds that people purchase insurance because they prefer the certainty of paying a small premium to the risk of getting sick and paying a large medical bill. Conventional theory also holds that any additional health care that consumers purchase because they have insurance is not worth the cost of producing it. Therefore, economists have promoted policies--copayments and managed care--to reduce consumption of this additional, seemingly low-value care.
This book presents a new theory of consumer demand for health insurance. It holds that people purchase insurance to obtain additional income when they become ill. In effect, insurance companies act to transfer insurance premiums from those who remain healthy to those who become ill. This additional income generates purchases of additional high-value care, often allowing sick persons to obtain life-saving care that they could not otherwise afford.
Regarding risk, the new theory relies on empirical studies showing that consumers actually prefer the risk of a large loss to incurring a smaller loss with certainty. Therefore, if consumers purchase insurance, it is not because they desire to avoid risk. Instead, the new theory suggests consumers simply pay a premium when healthy in exchange for a claim on additional income (effected when insurance pays for the medical care) if they become ill.
Health insurance is substantially more valuable to the consumer under the new theory. The new theory moreover implies that copayments and managed care--central health policies of the last 30 years--were directed at solving problems that largely did not exist. Because these policies either reduced the amount of income transferred to ill persons or limited access to valuable health care, they may have done more harm than good. The new theory also provides a solid theoretical justification for insuring the uninsured and for implementing national health insurance.

Unassuming but formidable, American maritime insurers used their position at the pinnacle of global trade to shape the new nation. The international information they gathered and the capital they generated enabled them to play central roles in state building and economic development. During the Revolution, they helped the U.S. negotiate foreign loans, sell state debts, and establish a single national bank. Afterward, they increased their influence by lending money to the federal government and to its citizens. Even as federal and state governments began to encroach on their domain, maritime insurers adapted, preserving their autonomy and authority through extensive involvement in the formation of commercial law. Leveraging their claims to unmatched expertise, they operated free from government interference while simultaneously embedding themselves into the nation's institutional fabric. By the early nineteenth century, insurers were no longer just risk assessors. They were nation builders and market makers. Deeply and imaginatively researched, Underwriters of the United States uses marine insurers to reveal a startlingly original story of risk, money, and power in the founding era.

Mit Hilfe der agentenbasierten Modellierung (ABM) lassen sich komplexe Systeme wie Finanzmarkte, Gesellschaften, Infrastrukturnetze, Organisationen oder ahnliches detailliert darstellen und anschliessend realitatsnah simulieren. Aufgrund der zentralen Fahigkeit der ABM, das Zusammenspiel einer Vielzahl heterogener Agenten miteinander sowie mit ihrer Umgebung recht einfach zu modellieren, koennen Phanomene auf der Makroebene durch Ereignisse auf der Mikroebene verstandlich erklart, zuverlassig prognostiziert oder auch in experimenteller Weise erkundet werden. Diese computergestutzte Methode bietet zahlreiche Vorteile, weshalb sie heutzutage bereits in vielen Anwendungsbereichen erfolgreich eingesetzt wird. So kann beispielsweise, abhangig von der gewahlten Modellierungsumgebung bzw. der verwendeten Software, eine grundlegende Einarbeitung ohne groesseren Zeitaufwand und vor allem auch ohne entsprechende Programmierkenntnisse autodidaktisch geschehen. Diese interdisziplinar angelegte Einfuhrung ermoeglicht einer breiten Zielgruppe einen Einblick in die Grundlagen der ABM.

Risikomanagement, das ist doch was fA1/4r die Banken- oder Versicherungsbranche? Nein, diese Zeiten sind vorbei. Risikomanagement wird immer mehr Bestandteil unternehmerischer Entscheidungen. Vor allem im Controlling, zu dessen Aufgaben die wirtschaftliche Steuerung des Unternehmens gehArt, hat Risikomanagement schon lAngst Einzug gehalten. Bei jedem Erfolg versprechenden GeschAft mA1/4ssen zugleich die zu A1/4bernehmenden Risiken betrachtet werden. Die klassischen Modelle des Controllings mA1/4ssen um Komponenten zur Steuerung von Risiken erweitert werden. In diesem Buch erschlieA t Robert Finke Praktikern die finanzmathematischen Modelle des Risikomanagements und zeigt, wie sich Risiken messen und darstellen lassen. Welche finanzmathematischen Modelle liegen den einzelnen Instrumenten des Risikomanagements zugrunde? Wie lassen sie sich in der Unternehmenspraxis einsetzen? Ausgehend von bewAhrten Methoden des Controllings entwickelt Robert Finke innovative Risikomanagementinstrumente, etwa zur Messung von WAhrungs-, Aktienkurs- oder Kreditausfallrisiken. Der Leser erfAhrt, wie sich solche Risiken preisen, messen und darstellen lassen und mit welchen Techniken sie gesteuert werden kAnnen. Er erhAlt Einblick in die grundlegenden mathematischen Methoden und ist nach der LektA1/4re in der Lage, sie seinen BedA1/4rfnissen entsprechend anzuwenden. Zahlreiche Beispiele und branchenbezogene Fallstudien illustrieren den Einsatz der Instrumente in der Praxis.

Dieses Sachbuch bietet privaten Anlegern eine erprobte Methode, Aktien mit einfachen Mitteln in drei Dimensionen zu analysieren, um eine fundierte Kaufentscheidung zu treffen. Chancen und Risiken werden aufgedeckt und abgewogen, so dass Anleger gemass ihrer eigenen Risikobereitschaft handeln koennen. Im ersten Schritt wird anhand einer einfachen Kennziffernanalyse die finanzielle Situation der jeweiligen Aktiengesellschaft beleuchtet, um schnell und moeglichst treffsicher finanziell solide Unternehmen zu finden. Darauf folgt die Bewertung der Analystenschatzungen mit selbst definierten Risikoparametern anhand eines einfach zu handhabenden finanzmathematischen Modells. Schliesslich folgt die Bestimmung des Kaufzeitpunktes mithilfe einer Chartanalyse. Mit dieser Methode bilden sich Anleger in drei Dimensionen zu Chance und Risiko der Aktie eine Meinung. Damit steigt die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass die Chancen die Risiken ubersteigen. Das stets mit der Geldanlage in Aktien verbundene Verlustrisiko lasst sich auf diese Weise verringern. Solche Aktien koennen tendenziell einige Zeit im Depot ruhen. Damit eignet sich diese Methode sehr gut fur Anleger, die selbst uber ihre Aktienanlagen entscheiden moechten und nicht taglich ihr Depot uberwachen wollen oder koennen.

Government subsidized crop insurance has been used by a number of developed countries as a mechanism to reduce farm income instability by reducing yield risks. This book provides an in-depth analysis and evaluation of government provided crop insurance in developed countries. The book is organized into three sections: Part one presents background material on crop insurance programs in the U.S., Canada and selected other countries. Part two provides some analytical models of multiple peril crop insurance which suggest the possibility of modification of design which could improve performance and which explores theoretical linkages between crop insurance decisions and other producer decisions previously not analyzed. The main part of the book is Part three, where the results of a series of empirical studies using databases particularly designed to answer crop insurance questions are presented. This part of the book tests a number of the hypotheses which were raised in Parts one and two regarding reasons for the view widely held by economists that crop insurance has not functioned well.

Risk Modeling for Hazards and Disasters covers all major aspects of catastrophe risk modeling, from hazards through to financial analysis. It explores relevant new science in risk modeling, indirect losses, assessment of impact and consequences to insurance losses, and current changes in risk modeling practice, along with case studies. It also provides further insight into the shortcomings of current models and examines model risk and ideas to diversify risk assessment. Risk Modeling for Hazards and Disasters instructs readers on how to assess, price and then hedge the losses from natural and manmade catastrophes. This book reviews current model development and science and explains recent changes in the catastrophe modeling space, including new initiatives covering uncertainty and big data in the assessment of risk for insurance pricing and portfolio management. Edited by a leading expert in both hazards and risk, this book is authored by a global panel including major modeling vendors, modeling consulting firms, and well-known catastrophe modeling scientists. Risk Modeling for Hazards and Disasters provides important insight into how models are used to price and manage risk.

"Risk Management under UCITS III/IV" shows how asset managers, fund administrators, management companies and risk departments can satisfy the various financial regulators, which govern European markets, that they have adequate risk monitoring procedures in place for the funds they manage or administer.

The book explains all the requirements for risk management under the new UCITS III/IV regime, as well as the universe of financial instruments which can be used by portfolio managers, and identifies their associated risks and possible mitigation strategies. It is therefore required reading for anyone trying to fully understand and comply with UCITS III/IV requirements.

The book encompasses the broad field of e-Finance and its transformation. After reviewing the developments in the economic and the technology fields, it examines how the insurance, banking, and securities trading firms are bringing about the digital revolution and adapting in the same breath to the changed socio-economic environment. Add to it, the "Rogue Elements", the field of cyber crimes is covered on a priority basis. The book also covers the inevitable changes in fields of HR and Marketing and the crucial role of the regulators. Looked at through the eyes of Corporate Planner, the book does provide a road map for the financial institutions (FIs).

This textbook provides a broad overview of the present state of insurance mathematics and some related topics in risk management, financial mathematics and probability. Both non-life and life aspects are covered. The emphasis is on probability and modeling rather than statistics and practical implementation. Aimed at the graduate level, pointing in part to current research topics, it can potentially replace other textbooks on basic non-life insurance mathematics and advanced risk management methods in non-life insurance. Based on chapters selected according to the particular topics in mind, the book may serve as a source for introductory courses to insurance mathematics for non-specialists, advanced courses for actuarial students, or courses on probabilistic aspects of risk. It will also be useful for practitioners and students/researchers in related areas such as finance and statistics who wish to get an overview of the general area of mathematical modeling and analysis in insurance.

Dieses Buch fu hrt mathematisch pra zise in die stochastischen Modelle ein, die bei der Bewertung von Schadensbetra gen fu r Versicherungen von besonderer Bedeutung sind. Abgedeckt werden Modelle fu r kleine und grosse Schadensbetra ge, Modelle fur extreme Ereignisse, Risikomasse, sowie die stochastischen Prozesse der aktuariellen Risikotheorie: Za hlprozesse, zusammengesetzte Prozesse, Erneuerungsprozesse und Poisson-Prozesse. Zentrales Thema ist die Bestimmung der Ruinwahrscheinlichkeit des Versicherers. In diesem Zusammenhang werden analytische Loesungen, asymptotische Approximationen sowie numerische Algorithmen wie die Monte-Carlo-Simulation vorgestellt. Gute Grundkenntnisse in der Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie werden vorausgesetzt, doch ein Anhang mit den wichtigsten Resultaten erleichtert die Lekture dieses Buches. Das Buch ist geeignet fur fortgeschrittene Bachelor- oder Masterstudierende der Mathematik oder Statistik mit entsprechender Vertiefungsrichtung. Daruber hinaus richtet es sich an Kandidaten, die das Diplom der Schweizerischen Aktuarvereinigung (SAV) erwerben oder sich auf das Diplom der Society of Actuaries (SOA) vorbereiten moechten. Auch praktizierende Versicherungsmathematiker, die ihre technischen Kenntnisse vertiefen wollen, werden angesprochen. Die vorliegende zweite Auflage enthalt theoretische Erganzungen, insbesondere Resultate uber die Fluktuationen der Summe und der zusammengesetzten Summe, d.h. des Gesamtschadensbetrages einer Periode. Daruber hinaus erleichtern nun neue Aufgaben verschiedener Schwierigkeitsgrade und mit ausfuhrlichen Loesungen das Selbststudium.

In the 1990s, large insurance companies failed in virtually every major market, prompting a fierce and ongoing debate about how to better protect policyholders. Drawing lessons from the failures of four insurance companies, "When Insurers Go Bust" dramatically advances this debate by arguing that the current approach to insurance regulation should be replaced with mechanisms that replicate the governance of non-financial firms.

Rather than immediately addressing the minutiae of supervision, Guillaume Plantin and Jean-Charles Rochet first identify a fundamental economic rationale for supervising the solvency of insurance companies: policyholders are the "bankers" of insurance companies. But because policyholders are too dispersed to effectively monitor insurers, it might be efficient to delegate monitoring to an institution--a prudential authority. Applying recent developments in corporate finance theory and the economic theory of organizations, the authors describe in practical terms how such authorities could be created and given the incentives to behave exactly like bankers behave toward borrowers, as "tough" claimholders.