A comparative analysis of the role of insurance companies in flood risk management

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2013-11
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en
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In the Netherlands, a flood prone area, until recently no flood insurance was offered because flood risk in the Netherlands was considered to be too big of a risk to be carried by the insurance industry. However, in almost all European countries flood insurance is part of flood risk management. This observation led to the main research question: ‘What role insurance companies can play to contribute to Dutch flood risk management.’ In respect of this main research question a comparative analysis is carried out that takes into account other structures of compensation (via flood insurance) in England, the USA and Belgium. Based on the theoretical concepts relating to Beck’s Risk Society theory and concepts of risk management, and insurance an analysis has been carried out to derive the contribution of the insurance industry to flood risk management and its influence on spatial planning involved in the process of flood risk management. The role the insurance industry plays depends highly on the framework and the responsibility taken by the government in the particular country. Furthermore of importance is the existing culture in relation to solidarity and individual responsibility. Based on an analysis of the (lack of) contribution of the insurance industry to flood risk management, lessons could be learned for a possible Dutch situation in which flood insurance would be introduced
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen