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Zhang, Jiayin (2006) THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON INSURANCE INDUSTRY: COMPETITION AMONG ONLINE INTERMEDIARIES. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the nature of the online competition between two types of online intermediaries, namely, online brokers and online agents. By exploring the price levels and price dispersion of premiums paid for term life insurance product, price data of online brokers and online agents are carefully compared. The investigation was conducted by a context and literature review, research objectives and methodology, data and result analysis, research limitations and significance. The data was collected from a price comparison website named moneysupermarket.com.

In this dissertation, the author presented a detailed literature review about the popularity and significance of the Internet and e-commerce, theories about search costs and lowered prices which are related directly to the e-commerce, development and changes of the insurance distribution channel, functions of the intermediaries in the insurance market and the relationship between the Internet and online insurance transactions.

By using the prices displayed on moneysupermarket.com, the author collected comparable price data from both online brokers and online agents. Through three regression analyses by SPSS, mean values and standard deviation values of the two groups were compared.

The results showed the nature of the online competitions in different insurance intermediary markets. The competition among online brokers who sell insurance products at an average lower price seems to be more intensive than the competition among online agents who sell homogeneous insurance products at an average higher price. Possible explanations for the differences were then brought forward. At last, this dissertation concludes with the limitations and achievements throughout the dissertation time and pointed out some reasonable directions for future studies.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords:	online insurance,insurance intermediary
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	30 Nov 2006
Last Modified:	10 Apr 2018 16:50
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/20265

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