Microinsurance: A Case Study of the Indian Rainfall Index Insurance Market
49 Pages
Posted: 20 Apr 2016
World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)
affiliation not provided to SSRN
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Date Written: October 1, 2010
Abstract
Rainfall index insurance provides a payout based on measured local rainfall during key phases of the agricultural season, and in principle can help rural households diversify a key source of idiosyncratic risk. This paper describes basic features of rainfall insurance contracts offered in India since 2003, and documents stylized facts about market demand and the distribution of payouts. The authors summarize the results of previous research on this market, which provides evidence that price, liquidity constraints, and trust all present significant barriers to increased take-up. They also discuss potential future prospects for rainfall insurance and other index insurance products.
Keywords: Climate Change Economics, Insurance Law, Debt Markets, Financial Literacy, Insurance & Risk Mitigation
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Giné, Xavier and Menand, Lev and Townsend, Robert M. and Vickery, James I., Microinsurance: A Case Study of the Indian Rainfall Index Insurance Market (October 1, 2010). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5459. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1697966
