Risk Center Staff

The property/casualty insurance sector is likely to experience changes following Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, with Republican control of the Senate and possibly the House. Experts suggest Trump's fiscal policies may stabilize the environment for mergers and … [Read more...] about Election could bring change to property/casualty insurance sector – 11/12/2024

Bob Hartwig, professor of Insurance with the university of South Carolina, discusses the resilient U.S. economy, election impacts, and future growth in the specializes insurance sectors at the Target Markets conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Watch more from the interview by … [Read more...] about Economic Outlook and insurance Insights at Target Markets 2024 – 11/06/2024

Matthew Moyer and Eric Locke, both of the University of South Carolina and Target Markets Scholarship recipients, emphasized the valuable networking opportunities and industry insights gained at Target Markets' 24th Annual Summit. Watch more from the interview by clicking here. … [Read more...] about South Carolina Collegians: Talent Gap Creates Career Opportunities in Insurance – 10/22/2024

This interview presented by AM Best talks to Robert Hartwig of the University of South Carolina who characterized the U.S. plaintiffs' bar as "the best funded, best organized, best politically connected special interest group in the world." Watch the full interview by clicking … [Read more...] about U of South Carolina’s Hartwig: ‘Tort Tax’ Costing US Households $3,600 Annually – 10/22/2024

Hurricane Milton, though not the worst-case scenario for Florida, is set to add significant strain to the state’s already embattled homeowners insurance market. Early estimates suggest privately insured losses could reach between $36 and $50 billion, driven primarily by wind … [Read more...] about Milton Brings High Insured Costs, Familiar Pressures To Fla. – 10/17/2024

The U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis in 2024, with over 48,000 gun-related deaths in 2022 alone. Insurance companies are responding by offering active assailant and mass shooter policies that go beyond indemnification, incorporating prevention … [Read more...] about Saving Lives – 10/1/2024

In this interview with CGTN Europe, Dr. Robert Hartwig discusses the economic impact of natural disasters like hurricanes. He estimates the total economic losses from Hurricane Ian could exceed $150 billion, though insured losses will be much smaller due to gaps in flood … [Read more...] about Flood insurance takes center stage after Hurricane Helene devastation – 10/2/2024

In a recent analysis, Robert Hartwig criticized insurers for offering judgment preservation insurance (JPI) while condemning third-party litigation funding (TPLF), which fuels large jury verdicts. JPI protects against appellate reversals, often backed by the same TPLF firms … [Read more...] about Having It Both Ways – 9/16/2024

Former President Donald Trump's recent promise to cut auto insurance premiums in half drew sharp criticism from industry experts. He claimed that premiums have risen 73%, a figure that "seems to have no basis in fact," according to Robert Hartwig, economist and professor at the … [Read more...] about Industry Critiques Trump’s Auto Insurance Rate Data, Promise to Cut Premiums – 9/19/2024

Catastrophe bonds (cat bonds) were the best-performing alternative asset class in 2023, with a 20% return. Despite predictions of an intense hurricane season, interest remains high due to their robust returns. These bonds help insurers hedge against natural disasters, offering … [Read more...] about How To Make Money Betting Against Nature’s Wrath – 7/29/2024