Introduction

This book explores the insurance sector’s potential role, influence, and impact on society in light of new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. Furthermore, it looks into how financial and technological innovations help reshape insurance regulation and business models. Unlike their predecessors, 21st century insurers have a growing impact on cross-sector service provision by making available to their clients a wealth of expert knowledge and experience in data analytics. The book delves into insurers’ transition from suppliers of products – consisting of risk coverage or investment opportunities – to providers of various services, and ultimately to solution providers by partnering with their clients so as to prevent failure, optimize their clients’ operations and help them excel in their economic sector. Insurance regulations and policies can be affected by various factors, such as changes in the economy, technological advances, and shifting consumer preferences, to name a few. Additionally, the insurance industry can have a significant bearing on the wider economy, making it important for the industry to operate within a framework of comprehensive regulations.

Content and Scope

This book includes a diverse set of theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented chapters on particular aspects of new trends and wider analyses leading to a more systematic understanding of the industry’s socio-economic role. It offers a mixture of chapters from insurance academics and professionals from different countries, cultures, and scientific backgrounds. The methodologies used are diverse, including legal, sociological, historical, economic and financial as well as interdisciplinary analyses. The book has a global scope, including chapters of a more global nature and others addressing particular jurisdictions on different continents, including Europe, Asia and North America.