As part of the seminar in actuarial science, Prof. X. Sheldon Lin, University of Toronto on the topic: "Liquidity Constraints and the Value of Insurance".

Date: Monday, 23 June 2025 at 2 p.m.

Room: Helmholtzstrasse 18, E20

Abstract:

Insurance moves resources across both time and states. We study the consumption-smoothing benefits of insurance under liquidity constraints in a model where contracts span multiple consumption periods. The normative benchmarks for insurance demand under liquidity constraints differ qualitatively and quantitatively from the standard model: individuals may only partially insure at actuarially fair prices, may benefit from insurance when premiums are very high and even sometimes when dominated, and may value insurance against events that will surely happen. Simulations for health insurance show that the alternative normative benchmark for liquidity-constrained individuals affects whether common choice patterns should be interpreted as mistakes.