The Life Value of Financial Contracting: Evidence from the Insurance Market
35 Pages Posted: 12 Jan 2021 Last revised: 10 Mar 2021
Date Written: January 12, 2021
Abstract
We investigate whether financial contract terms alter individuals’ risk-taking behavior under a moral hazard framework. Exploiting (a) the contractual-level data of automobile insurance, and (b) a unique institutional reform that gives more pricing freedom to insurers, we discover a significant decline in the likelihood of accidents (and those involving injuries or deaths) after the premium becomes more sensitive to past performance. The effects are stronger for riskier drivers, and in regions with a more dangerous road condition. The evidence suggests that contracts with a more flexible premium scheme of rewards and penalties induce less risky behavior, mitigating moral hazard.
Keywords: Financial Contract, Insurance, Moral Hazard, Risk-Taking Behavior
JEL Classification: G22, R41, G23, G28
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation