Micro Insurance, Natural Complement of Microcredit Part.III

The combination takes advantage of this special role to provide support (including legal) in the Proceedings of the insured. Conversely, insurance products are best developed on the basis of specifications drawn up according to the needs and financial capacities of micro entrepreneurs by insurers who have the expertise and capital required.

It is clear that the design of the two products presented above are based on models of traditional products of insurance (liability, property and casualty business,) well understood by insurers and distribution models have proven otherwise.
The innovation of this type of product then essentially comes from the mix design "optimized" (an insurance policy and a simplified marketing price equal to the cost of production) and distribution of "proximity" (accompanied by networks of initiative Economic and associations).

The need for micro-entrepreneurs in terms of insurance is not new and one wonders why such offers micro insurance was not developed earlier. According to Mr. Schinzler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Munich Re, "the premium income is low administrative costs are relatively high and the infrastructure is lacking, as many arguments justifying the lack of interest of professional insurance for this market".
Micro insurance, such as microfinance as a whole, should not be seen as the broad market of tomorrow huge future profits (insurers partners do not mark-up on products and distribution fees are zero). Today, it should rather be seen as an activity to meet the challenges of sustainable development in Financial Services, a theme which is too often accused professionals of this sector of disinterest. The many recent initiatives in this area show the contrary a real desire...

Micro Insurance, Natural Complement of Microcredit Part.II

This is compounded by a range of options such as auto insurance products or comprehensive household. Lasting up to 4 years, time required for proper insertion into the economic fabric, it is available for less than € 1 per day.
The second offer was launched by AXA and Macif in partnership with ADIE in May 2007. Partly similar to the basic coverage, duration and price, it differs from the previous offer additional guarantees for specific depending on the type of activity. Note, for example, guarantees given for construction activities (from € 1,000 / year) that are legally binding assurances.

It is interesting to note that these offers are based on micro-insurance business model "producer-distributor-guide". To understand this model, back into the mechanisms of insurance. In an offer of insurance, there are three groups of activities involved: product design, sales and service. The design is linked to both the development and pricing to risk management of the insurance portfolio and investment of reserves and annual premiums. The sale includes all activities related to marketing, promotion and sale of the product. The service includes the collection, continuous premiums of policyholders and settlement of their compensation.

In Model "producer-distributor-guide", the producer performs all activities of product development and sometimes after-sales service, while the distributor is responsible for the act of selling the product that was recommended previously by the attendant.
Networks to aid the economic initiative are well equipped to play the role of accompanist, using the leverage of their existing networks and building on already established relationships of trust with the micro entrepreneurs during assembly files microcredit. The staffs of these networks still need to be trained in insurance products to be able to perform its consulting business.
The coach may also carry out the deed, but most often it is the producer or a third actor playing the role of distributor. In the provision of Contractors of the City, aid networks are not selling, they are responsible to the requirements and redirect to the creators of the City Entrepreneurs who takes care of distribution (no commissions) micro insurance products through its association and support the service remaining the sole representative of the member.

Micro Insurance, Natural Complement of Microcredit Part.I

After demonstrating his interest in developing countries, micro-insurance - like micro-credit - investing developed countries. As proof, two offerings aimed at micro insurance. Little publicized the world of micro nevertheless exciting. According to a study of DCASPL, 1 January 2004 there were 2.39 million in France microenterprises alone that too, more than 95% of European companies. All of these micro-employed 5,798,700 people, that is to say one quarter of salaried jobs, and generated the same year more than 8% of exports. In other words, micro enterprises are companies that have real economic importance, and much more, social.

Interesting phenomenon, according to INSEE figures for 2004, more than 220,000 microenterprises have been established. And nearly a third of the creators were unemployed (half for more than a year). That is to say that a large proportion of these newly created small organizations, which are inherently fragile, are supported by people particularly vulnerable.

To address this vulnerability, micro entrepreneurs can find support from actors to promote economic initiatives such as PACE, ADIE. In addition to expert advice, these players offer solutions to meet the needs of two main creators: to finance their project and manage risks.

Broadly, there are three main types of risks faced by micro entrepreneurs:

* The damage that the company may suffer in case of disaster;
* The damage could cause the company to third parties;
* Risks that relate to people (health, disability ...).

While microcredit is now well accepted in France among the types of funding, micro insurance is currently not among the first their risk management solution. Yet it is a natural extension of microcredit, to secure and sustain the long term activity initiated by the micro-entrepreneur.
The first offering micro insurance was launched in France by Contractors of the City in December 2006. This "First Insurance Package" provides a standardized insurance policy covering the three major types of risks faced by micro entrepreneurs and comprehensive coverage including professional liability, Welfare and Health.

Country Risk Part.III

During the introduction of the Cooke ratio, depending on whether the country was a member of the OECD or not, the commitments to residents of foreign countries were weighted at 0% or 100%. A debt security issued by a government could therefore not return in the calculation of the Cooke ratio, which consequently gave an advantage to OECD countries until 1994 and the opening of the more "modest”.

As part of the Basel II regulations, the IRB approach (Internal Rating Based) implies the existence of a probability of default for counterparties. But is it really possible to speak of "default" for the country? The S & P introduced the notion moreover SD (Default Selected) to report that states do not honor their debts, since technically they cannot be made bankrupt and businesses. Of default of a country therefore requires analysis of the creditworthiness of the state. It is thus necessary to understand properly the impact of the fiscal capacity of the State concerned on its ability to repay and to define an acceptable level of debt for sovereign debt. However, these problems are more related to the concept of sovereign risk than that of country risk as a whole; demonstrate once again that the concepts are very similar.

Investing in emerging high growth is an important trend as evidenced by the proliferation of funds BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). However, although the results are quite encouraging, these investments are not safe because these countries are not immune to political tensions, as their market is very volatile at times and finally as a big part of the investment is located in the energy. That's why the rating agencies are requested by the fund managers to reassure investors, the country risk analysis and must rest.

Country Risk Part.II

Country risk is actually a combination of a multitude of risks influenced by three types of factors:

* Economic and financial factors (banking systems failing, unstable tax system, poor management of public finances ...)
* The political (legitimacy of governments, political repression, censorship, ...)
* (Socio-cultural attitudes and traditions, unequal access to resources ...)

The diagram below provides a framework for country risk analysis, the aim being to understand that country risk can be approached through a large and varied risk factors (both domestic and international).


What are the measurement tools available to risk such a company wishing to conduct an operation of setting up abroad? Two main tools are characteristic of the analytical framework for country risk:


The rating is the most used tool in the evaluation of country risk faced by business entities that have concluded a contract on an international scale. The ratings are mechanical projection of reality on a scale of one-dimensional notation. Rating procedures use criteria (economic, financial, political, social ...) very objective to make the mechanics 'scientific'.

These are essentially specialized agencies that are responsible for developing the ratings. These institutions are in most of the rating agencies (Fitch Ratings, Political Risk Services, Moody's and Standard & Poor's), but also specialized firms (Business Environment Risk Intelligence and Economic Intelligence Unit) and financial newspapers (Institutional Investor). In Europe, such as credit insurers Coface (French Insurance Company for Foreign Trade) have a role in that country risk analysis. Indeed, COFACE is often the preferred partner of SME exporters who lack the internal resources of country risk analysis.

Anticipation instruments par excellence, the risk scenarios is another essential procedure in the analysis of country risk. They aim to make combinations of multiple risk factors (economic, political ...) in "stressful" varying characteristics and for different time horizons (short, medium and long term). Scenario results then allow investors or bankers to have a more comprehensive range of their potential gains and losses, which will influence their choice whether to launch the operation.