From the Editor's Desk
The Power Imbalance

• Patricia Vowinkel
• August 2018
• 

Bullying cases too often make the news these days, raising concerns about school environment, accountability and how best to protect children.

As many as 28% of U.S. students in grades 6-12 experience bullying, according to stopbullying.gov. A far greater number of students and school staff are witnesses of bullying behavior.

Insurers are beginning to play a role in giving students and school staff a way of stepping up and pushing back against the behavior. Some insurers, for instance, are paying for an anti-bullying app to be implemented in schools and municipalities as a risk management tool.

A key element of the definition of bullying is a power imbalance that enables the abusive behavior.

Initiatives such as the STOPit app, which allows users to report incidents anonymously, help equalize that power imbalance by providing a simple way to bring the problem to the attention of authorities.

In “Pushing Back,” Best's Review examines some anti-bullying efforts and insurance industry involvement in apps like STOPit.

In this month's special reinsurance section, Best's Review focuses on developments in mortgage reinsurance, cyber reinsurance and life reinsurance.

In “Backstopping the Mortgage Market,” we examine the reinsurance industry's growing interest in mortgage reinsurance. Dozens of reinsurers have taken advantage of new opportunities to assume mortgage credit risk. Prior to the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, reinsurers had minimal involvement in the mortgage industry.

“Opening the Cyber Door” looks at the proliferation of ransomware and other types of cyberattacks and how insurers are using reinsurance to manage their exposure. “Appetite for Longevity” focuses on developments in the life reinsurance market and opportunities in longevity products.

The captive insurance industry gathers later this month for the Vermont Captive Insurance Association conference, with 1,100 people expected for the event.

August is Captive Insurance Awareness Month. A.M. Best's news outlets will cover the annual Vermont conference. This event has become a magnet for national and global risk professionals.

Our August issue examines some of the issues involving captive insurance.“Captive Developments” looks at the impact on captives of an evolving regulatory environment and the complications presented by a young but growing cannabis industry. Guidance on the federal terrorism backstop is also a focus.

The August issue also features an interview with Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, the chairman and CEO of Starr Companies. In “Just the Beginning,” A.M.BestTV spoke with Greenberg about the organization and its history as it prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary next year.

Patricia Vowinkel is executive editor, Best's Review. Contact her at Patricia.Vowinkel@ambest.com