Insurance companies play an important role in supporting economic activity. But insurers are exposed to a number of risks and can become distressed or fail. This article considers a number of channels through which insurance companies could have adverse effects on financial stability, including:...

The article analyses the link between Italian life insurers' profitability and bank affiliation. It also examines the influence that the differences in product mix and distribution costs displayed by bank affiliated versus traditional insurers has on results, and the changes that the big...