Title:
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Insurance, a risk transfer mechanism : evidence from Nigeria's financial services sector
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The study critically explores purchase and use of insurance by financial services firms (FSFs)
in Nigeria to manage risks associated with their operations. Both quantitative and qualitative
techniques are used for the study. Mixed-method design and methodological triangulation are
adopted to ensure a holistic understanding of purchase and use of insurance by FSFs in
Nigeria. Four data collections methods (Le. the literature, document analysis, survey and elite
interview) are utilised for the study. The study adopted interpretivist philosophy, and
theoretical foundation of the study was developed based on Knight (1921) classical theory of
risk. Risk management does not eliminate uncertainty; rather, it minimises financial
consequences of uncertainty. Insurance is part of wider and integrated system of risk
management. In the past, it was thought that risk aversion motive is the primary motive in the
literature for purchasing insurance since Pratt (1964) and Arrow (1971 ). However, risk
aversion does not satisfactorily explain corporate demand for insurance as firms are
considered less risk-averse than individuals (Mains, 1983; MacMinn, 1987; Mayers and
Smith, 1990; Yamori, 1999; Goldberg, 2009). The literature revealed that studies on
corporate demand for insurance in the literature have been carried out in the context of
developed countries; thereby, providing little insight in terms of analysis on purchase and use
of insurance by firms in developing countries, such as Nigeria. The study fills the gap,
thereby contributing to knowledge. Moreover, beside those factors influencing corporate
demand for insurance in the literature; the study identifies an additional factor influencing
FSFs (corporate) insurance purchase practices which suggested that: institutional/corporate
(including FSFs) ownership or interest in insurance company influence corporate demand for
insurance. This implies that there is a positive correlation between FSFs (institutional)
ownership or interest in insurance companies, and insurance companies from which FSFs
purchased insurance. This is a plausible finding and contribution to knowledge as the
literature does not indicate that institutional ownership or interest in insurance company
influence corporate demand for insurance. The study identified insurance policies that are
suitable for managing risks associated with FSFs operations; and highlighted factors that
influence insurance purchase practices of FSFs in Nigeria. Generally, the findings suggested
that: insurance is suitable for managing FSF risk exposures; FSFs in Nigeria purchase and use
insurance to manage risks associated with their operations; Nigeria's FSFs which have
insurance company subsidiaries (parent or sister) purchase insurance partly or wholly from
their insurance subsidiaries.
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