An investigation of the relationship between firm growth factors, business structure and profitability for a developing non-life insurance market: evidence from the Taiwan

Abstract

This study investigates the factors of firm growth and analyses profitability by sourcing panel data of the non-life insurance industry in Taiwan. I initially utilise logistic regression to examine the insurer's growth factors. Further, I examine the effect of the relationship between firm growth and business structure on the insurer's profitability. The findings reveal that reinsurance, input costs, return on investment (ROI), and firm age have significant impact on firm growth, but firm size and firm growth are independent of each other. I also find that underwriting risk, input costs, ROI, and financial holding group influence the insurer's profitability. Furthermore, firm growth and business structure have different significant impact on firms profitability in the profit ratio model and the operating ratio model, respectively. My results have practical implications for the insurance industry and competent authorities in Taiwan.