1. THE SATELLITE INSURANCE MARKET AND UNDERWRITING CYCLES Piotr Manikowski, Poznan University of Economics, Poland Mary Weiss, Temple University ARIA Annual Meeting Quebec City, August 5-8, 2007

2. 2 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

3. 3 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

4. 4 The Underwriting Cycle Source: Kunstadter, 2005

5. 5 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

6. 6 Aims Determine whether underwriting cycles exist in satellite insurance, and the length of the cycle if relevant. Determine whether premium components (rates-on-line and annual industry-wide coverage availability or both) are cyclic. Test two prominent underwriting cycle theories, the rational expectations/ institutional intervention hypothesis (Cummins and Outreville, 1987) and the capacity constraint theory (Winter, 1994) with satellite insurance industry data.

7. 7 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

8. 8

9. 9 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

10. 10 Hypotheses Hypothesis 1a: Rate-on-line is positively associated with past losses. Hypothesis 1b: The maximum amount of coverage available is negatively related to past losses. Hypothesis 2: Satellite insurance rates are inversely related to the amount of satellite insurance coverage available. Hypothesis 3: Satellite insurance rates and maximum available coverage are determined simultaneously. Rational Expectations/ Institutional Intervention Hypothesis Capacity Constraint Theory

11. 11 Agenda Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions

12. 12 Data Period: 1968 – 2005 Type of data: – Satellite insurance underwriting data: claims, premiums, loss ratios, rates (minimum, maximum, average) and capacity (the sum of the maximum amounts that each underwriter is willing to provide on one satellite for launch and in-orbit insurance); number of launches; average satellite value – Reinsurance data: number of reinsurers, surplus – Macroeconomic data: interest rates, stock prices

13. 13 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypotheses Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

14. 14 Underwriting Cycle Determination – existence of the underwriting cycle: a second-order autoregressive model proposed by Venezian (1985): P t = a 0 + a 1 P t-1 + a 2 P t-2 + ω t, tested variables: the minimum and the average rate, capacity, and loss ratio A cycle is present if a 1 > 0, a 2 < 0 and (a 1 ) 2 + 4a 2 < 0 – cycle periods:

15. 15 Hypothesis Testing Regression models: – Satellite insurance rate model: – Satellite insurance capacity model: (+) (-) (+) (-) (+/-)

16. 16 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypothesis Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

17. 17 Cycle Test Results for Satellite Insurance ( 1968-2005)

18. 18 ∆Min. Rate Regression Results (1972-2005)

19. 19 ∆ Capacity Regression Results (1972-2005)

20. 20 Introduction Aims The satellite insurance industry Hypothesis Data Methodology Results Conclusions Agenda

21. 21 Confirmation of the existence of an underwriting cycle in satellite insurance market (for minimum rate-on-line, average rate-on-line, and capacity). Cycle periods are relatively long (10 to 25 years) compared to the average six year cycle commonly cited in other studies. Conclusions (1)

22. 22 Confirmation of the rational expectations/ institutional intervention hypothesis - a positive and significant relationship between the minimum-rate-on line and lagged loss ratios. Confirmation of the capacity constraint theory - the minimum rate-on-line is negatively related to capacity (coverage availability). Conclusions (2)

23. 23 Because of the unique data used in this study we are able to determine that the maximum coverage available in the satellite insurance industry and the rate-on-line are determined simultaneously. Further, our results suggests, that changes in capacity appear to be relatively more responsive to changes in the minimum rate than the other way around. Conclusions (3)

24. 24 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Contact: mary.weiss@temple.edu piotr.manikowski@ae.poznan.pl