Microinsurance: Insights from a Historical Approach
46 Pages Posted: 28 Jun 2010 Last revised: 11 Jan 2018
Date Written: June 28, 2010
Abstract
This paper provides guidance to the microinsurance movement on how organisational structure impacts performance. We develop these insights through analysis of the Friendly Society Movement, a previously untapped and rich history of insurance for the poor. A particular structure, the Affiliated Order, provides a role model for exceptional performance in three key criteria of sustainability, popularity and impact. Every major insurer for the poor during the movement is analysed in contrast to the Affiliated Order to explore the relationship between different structural elements of an insurer and its performance.
Keywords: microinsurance, friendly societies, insurance history, poverty
JEL Classification: G22, N83, D02
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation