Title: How has Italian insurers' asset book value evolved from 1998 to 2012?

Authors: Guido Giovando; Francesco Venuti

Addresses: Department of Management, University of Turin, C.so Unione Sovietica, 218 Bis – 10134 Torino, Italy ' Department of Management, University of Turin, C.so Unione Sovietica, 218 Bis – 10134 Torino, Italy

Abstract: This research aims to analyse the dynamics of the book value of assets of a cross-section of Italian insurers in a medium/long period of time (from 1998 to 2012), correlating this with Italian nominal GDP. Subsequently, to permit more in-depth investigation of these dynamics, the research, based on a quantitative method, moves from an analysis of the absolute values to analysis of the rates of change of the assets book value with those of the Italian GDP. Lastly, for more analysis, attention has been focused on certain assets considered particularly significant. In this way, this research correlates macroeconomic variables with some of the most important financial variables (assets) in a medium/long period of time, that cover years both before and after the global crisis that started in 2007. This study may offer interesting suggestions both at theoretical and practical levels, mainly for managers (who frequently base their decisions only upon short-time data) and potential long-time investors.

Keywords: insurance industry; balance sheet; GDP; gross domestic product; technical provisions; liabilities; investment; Italy; asset book value.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2016.077717

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2016 Vol.9 No.2, pp.152 - 168

Received: 04 Nov 2015
Accepted: 05 Nov 2015
Published online: 13 Jul 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article