Author Description

Natural catastrophes & terrorist attacks (NCTA) can place enormous financial demands on the insur. industry (II), result in sharply higher prem. & substantially reduced coverage. There are mechanisms to increase the capacity of the II to manage these events. This report: (1) provides an overview of the II's current capacity to cover NCTA risks & discusses the impacts of the 2004 hurricanes; (2) analyzes the potential of catastrophe bonds -- a security issued by insurers & reinsur. & sold to instit'l. investors -- & tax-ded. reserves to enhance private-sector capacity; & (3) describes the approaches that 6 European countries have taken, incl. whether these countries permit insurers to use tax-deductible reserves for such events. Tables.