I.I.I. on How Insurance Boosts Economy, Communities and Innovation

While consumers understand insurance as protection against financial loss, the industry’s contribution to the economy goes much further.

A white paper from the industry’s Insurance Information Institute argues that insurance also serves a wide variety of roles that preserve communities and promote overall economic growth.

The white paper, How Insurance Drives Economic Growth, examines how the insurance industry’s contributions benefit all aspects of the U.S. and global economy, especially within safety/security, economic/financial stability and development.

“The insurance industry truly is at the heart of the growth and progress of every modern economy,” said Sean Kevelighan, I.I.I. chief executive officer. “Most people realize that the insurance industry is the financial first responder — providing much needed recompense after a disaster. But the industry also plays a number of important roles, quietly, that are vitally important to a modern society.”

Examples of the ways insurers and reinsurers drive economic growth outlines in the white paper include:

Financial First Responders

Insurers restore claimants and beneficiaries, which lessens the costs of unexpected losses. There is also a ripple effect that benefits those not directly affected by a loss, including businesses that repair damaged vehicles and homes. They, in turn, are helping the economy by paying taxes and keeping people employed. In 2017, the insurance industry paid roughly $1.5 trillion to help claimants and beneficiaries rebuild their lives, properties, and businesses while also getting access to medical care. Health insurers paid $589.9 billion; life/annuity insurers provided $590.3 billion; and property/casualty insurers paid $414.6 billion.

Risk Mitigators

Insurers sponsor and promote knowledge and activities that save lives as well as protect and preserve property. They employ a variety of loss prevention methods and personnel to study ways to protect lives and property. On the property side, insurers have evaluated the effectiveness of municipalities’ fire suppression systems and provided incentives to upgrade them. After Hurricane Charley hit Florida in 2004, modern building codes promoted by the industry’s Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety and property insurers were found to reduce the cost of insured losses by 42 percent and the frequency of these losses by 60 percent.

Partners in Social Policy

Insurance delivers social benefits by promoting the common good through auto and workers’ compensation insurance. For example, nearly every state requires motorists to purchase auto liability insurance or show proof of financial responsibility to compensate accident victims. As a result of mandatory insurance, drivers are protected from financial troubles if accidents occur. In addition, all states have workers’ compensation laws, requiring workers to be covered for illnesses and injuries arising out of their job, along with lost wages. In 2015, about 135.6 million employees had coverage.

Community Builders

Insurers are among the largest investors of capital in the world, with more than $5.8 trillion in assets under management. Since these investments are essential to insurers’ ability to pay long-term claims, insurers’ investment portfolios often include private and municipal bonds that help finance the growth and prosperity of communities across the country. By supporting state and local governments through the buying and holding of municipal bonds, insurers help to lower borrowing costs that allow for greater investments, reduce tax rates for residents, and bolster job creation and economic growth. In the last decade, financing public works projects with municipal bonds vs. taxable debt (that would have had to pay higher interest) has saved $495 billion.

Innovation Catalysts

Insurance allows innovators to safely take risks that drive the modern economy, and the industry has underwritten investments in technological breakthroughs, literally across centuries — from steam power to mass production to aviation to automation and information networks to coming advancements in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and beyond. The global nanotech market is expected to double in value in five years, from $39.2 billion in 2016 to $90.5 billion by 2021. More than 1,600 nano-influenced consumer products are already in the marketplace, and more are being developed, all with the support of insurance.

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