Insurers risk-taking behaviour in an emerging economy: unpacking the linear and nonlinear effects of enterprise risk management and corporate governance

This study explores both the linear and nonlinear effects of corporate governance (CG) and enterprise risk management (ERM) on insurers' risk-taking preferences. This paper was analysed using the generalised method of moments and the dynamic panel threshold estimation techniques based on a sample of 33 insurance companies in Ghana between 2015 and 2021. The results from the linear regression show that ERM significantly and positively influences insurers' risk-taking, indicating that insurance companies with effective ERM programs are more inclined to assume higher risks. Additionally, the empirical findings indicate that risk-taking is negatively associated with gender diversity but positively influenced by board independence and size. The study further reveals nonlinearities between ERM, CG and risk-taking. The empirical evidence indicates that a strong ERM system enhances the risk-taking behaviour of insurers when it exceeds the threshold level and vice versa, implying a U-shaped relationship. Thus, an effective ERM program promotes better insurance risk-taking decisions. Also, the study presents a U-shaped relationship between board independence and insurers' risk-taking. Contrarily, board size, and gender diversity reveal a relationship with an inverted U-shape, implying that the board makes less risky decisions when they are large, gender diversified and there are more females on the board. Policy implications are provided.