Recording Insurance Transactions in the Balance of Payments

Author/Editor:

Peter Harper

Publication Date:

July 1, 1995

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

Insurance enterprises provide services, called insurance services, to policyholders. The values of such services are seldom, if ever, directly apparent; rather these values are implicitly entwined within the payment of premiums. This paper discusses the treatment of insurance services, and related transactions, in the balance of payments. A simple measure, based on a number of assumptions, of nonlife insurance services is considered. The assumptions underlying this measure are then relaxed. The treatment of life insurance, which has many of the characteristics of nonlife insurance, is then addressed. The paper concludes with a discussion on the practical aspects of measuring insurance transactions in the balance of payments.

Series:

Working Paper No. 1995/072

Subject:

Imports Insurance Insurance companies Personal income

English

Publication Date:

July 1, 1995

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451849288/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA0721995

Pages:

22

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