In: Finance
An insurance company based in Newcastle is currently offering earthquake insurance to the residents of Newcastle.
a. Does this represent common or independent risk?
b. How could the insurance company change the nature of the risk it faces from common risk to independent risk?
(Choose all correct responses.)
A.
It could offer other types of insurance, such a fire, theft and health insurance.
B.
It could offer earthquake insurance in other geographical regions.
C.
It could only offer insurance to people with solid, structurally sound houses.
D.
None of the above will be effective in reducing common risk.
Answer:
(a)
An insurance company is currently offering earthquake insurance to
the residents of Newcastle. This represents common
risk as common risk is the risk that affects the value of
all risky assets and it cannot be eliminated in a diversified
portfolio whereas the independent risk is a risk that is specific
and independent for all the risky assets and can be eliminated in a
diversified portfolio.
For example- for earthquake insurance policies in a same geographic
region, common risk cannot be eliminated so the number of claims
expected will be very high.
(b)
The insurance company can change the nature of the risk from common
to independent by:
A. It can offer other types of insurance such a fire, theft
and health insurance because they represent independent
risk
B. It could offer earthquake insurance in other
geographical regions to eliminate common risk.
Therefore, both A and B options are available to the insurance
company to change the nature of risk from common to
independent.