Measuring the Degree of Market Concentration in Thailand Insurance Industry


  •  Sivalap Sukpaiboonwat    
  •  Chucheep Piputsitee    
  •  Arunee Punyasavatsut    

Abstract

This paper investigates market structure of life insurance and non-life insurance industry in Thailand. This paper uses the Concentration Ratio and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index to measure the degree of market concentration. The paper also analyzes various data from all type of insurance premium, balance sheet and income statement to measure the concentration and competition trend. An analysis of life insurance premium, group market is unconcentrated where as ordinary and industry markets are concentrated. As for the life insurance balance sheet and income statement are concentrated market. An analysis of non-life insurance premium, fire, marine and transportation and automobile markets are unconcentrated. As for the non-life insurance balance sheet and income statement are unconcentrated market. In terms of the same sub-categorized product, personal accident and health insurance have difference concentrate degree. Personal accident in life insurance is near monopoly and highly concentrated market while personal accident in non-life insurance is loose oligopoly and moderate concentrated market. Health insurance in life and non-life insurance are tight oligopoly and concentrated market. The results conclude that the life insurance industry is more concentrated than the non-life insurance industry. In both segments of the insurance market, as well as in the overall insurance sector, there is a downward trend in market concentration, which indicates the success of the competition promoting process which allows a greater and better choice for customers.


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