Assessment of the reinsurance business in developing countries : case of Ethiopia

Abstract

There are contrasting views about the impact of cross border reinsurance business in developing countries. In the literature, some argue that cross border reinsurance plays a critical role in strengthening risk absorbance, solvency, know-how, and in availing foreign capital for the insurance industry of developing countries. Some of the literature underpin cross border reinsurance as indispensable in availing foreign capital for the insurance industry in the aforesaid countries. Others claim that excessive dependency on cross border reinsurance not only negatively affects foreign currency holdings of a given country, but, also has an adverse effect on the contribution of the industry to the economy of a nation. The Ethiopian insurance industry is entirely dependent on cross border reinsurance business. Despite the importance of sound reinsurance business regulation for the stability and growth of the local insurance industry, no such regulations in Ethiopia have been issued. This paper reports the findings on the influence of the cross-border reinsurance business, on the insurance industry and the economy and perceptions of the management of the industry regarding reinsurance business regulations in the Ethiopian context. The study used ten years data including financial transactions of the insurance companies, GDP and sample primary data of the perceptions of the management of the insurance industry regarding reinsurance business regulations. Quantitative and qualitative analytical research approach is used. The results show that cross-border reinsurance business affects negatively the insurance industry from the financial performance perspective. The insurance industry is contributing little to the economy of the country. Awareness gap regarding the reinsurance regulation persists in both management levels. Lack of awareness induced the industry to engage in the international business without the appropriate regulations. Both the government and the industry should work in unison towards putting in place a regulatory framework and appropriate strategies that can enhance competitiveness of the industry, both at national and global spectrum.