Insurance sector in India has been facing revolutionary changes in terms of its nature, scope, business, profitability, regulation and transparency. In 1994, the Malhotra Committee has submitted its report to make regulations for the entry of private sector; to permit the foreign companies in India to increase healthy competition, to encourage new products and services in the insurance sector and to establish a competent authority to control and regulate the insurance sector. Finally, in 1999, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act was passed and IRDA was setup.

An incisive look at the war for market share in the Asian life insurance market Although the life insurance industry in Asia has emerged from the financial crisis stronger than ever, it has not escaped unchanged. As the general focus of insurance companies across the continent moves towards profitability beyond growth, tightening regulatory measures, shifts in consumer preferences, and risk tolerance, battle lines have been drawn between local incumbents, attackers, and foreign players. Life Insurance in Asia: Winning in the Next Decade, Second Edition looks at the ways in which small local agencies and multinational companies alike are seizing control of as much of the market as they can by aggressively recruiting new agents, leveraging new channels, and selling new products to cash in on the explosive Asian markets. Thoroughly revised and updated, this new edition offers a comprehensive introduction to the booming Asian life insurance markets and outlines exactly what it takes to capture the opportunities that are emerging. Drawing on the research and experience of the McKinsey Asia financial services team, it includes everything you need to know about the battle for the life insurance market in Asia. Looks at how China and India are becoming increasingly important players on the international life insurance scene Goes behind the scenes of the Asian life insurance industry and the contentious battle for market share Outlines the steps to successfully entering, and prospering, in the Asian market The life insurance industry in Asia is changing like never before. What the future holds, no one knows, but with Life Insurance in Asia in hand, you'll have a clear idea of the factions in play and the rules of the game.

This book is an outcome of the research undertaken on impact of global financial crisis on Life Insurance industry in South India. Insurance in any economy is regarded as a pillar of growth for overall development of the economy. Volatile economic condition with recent financial crisis changed the competitive landscape in life insurance industry with a challenging future ahead in India.An examination of the effect of the crisis on Indian economy and savings pattern of people and priority for insurance is made. It contains a quantitative and objective assessment of how well the life insurers in India managed the global crisis in Madurai Division and at the National level. There is an analysis on the behaviour of policyholders' towards LIC and views towards global financial crisis and perceptions of the policyholders about the service rendered by the LIC of India using SERQUAL model.It is hope that the readers will be enlightened on the necessity for investing in life insurance during their earning period.It also offers some valuable insights to the branch managers of LIC to aggressively improve customer service standards and revamp distribution networks.

This book traces the development and analyses the performance of life insurance industry in India, since inception of this sector, using different business indicators over the years. It discusses the evolution and changing features of the Indian insurance industry in 3 phases: phase I from 1818 to 1956, phase II from 1956 to 2000 (known as the nationalisation period) and phase III post 2000 (called the post reform period). The book also measures the relative efficiency and productivity of the life insurance industry in India for the post-reform period, by employing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Despite the fact that the life insurance sector recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% in terms of total premiums and 21% in terms of new business premium collections during the post reform period, the insurers continue to grapple with the issue of profitability. Against this background, the book presents results on the factors determining profitability of the life insurance companies using measures of efficiency and competition. By helping regulatory authorities determine the future course of action in the context of entry of foreign insurers and also in establishing a level playing field, the book has important policy implications.

Insurance market activity, both as a financial intermediary and a provider of risk transfer and indemnification, may contribute to economic growth by allowing different risks to be managed more efficiently and by mobilizing domestic savings. During the past decade, there has been faster growth in insurance market activity, particularly in emerging markets given the process of liberalization and financial integration, which raises questions about its impact on economic growth. The author tests whether there is a causal relationship between insurance market activity (life and nonlife insurance) and economic growth. Using the generalized method of moments for dynamic models of panel data for 56 countries and for the 1976-2004 period, he finds robust evidence of a causal relationship between insurance market activity and economic growth. Both life and nonlife insurance have a positive and significant causal effect on economic growth. High-income countries drive the results in the case of life insurance. On the other hand, both high-income and developing countries drive the results in the case of nonlife insurance.

In the complex, highly developed U.S. life insurance industry, regulation emphasizes prudence and solvency and does not inhibit competition and innovation. But because there are no satisfactory measures of efficiency and profitability, it is difficult to assess industry performance.