Examine how insurance works—and who really benefits.
This historical treatise analyzes the economics of insurance, showing how premiums, risk, and profits interact for merchants, insurers, and the public.
Through a series of problems and practical examples, it explains how premiums are set, what counts as a fair charge, and how the insured might recover costs after a loss. The text also questions whether insurance serves the nation as a whole, not just private traders, and it considers the incentives that insurers create for or against the public good.
- Clear explanations of premium, risk, and the distribution of costs between insured and insurer.
- Step‑by‑step problems that illustrate how sums to be insured are calculated to recoup costs after a loss.
- Discussion of the broader effects of insurance on trade, national wealth, and public policy.
- Critical perspective on whether private profitability aligns with public interest.
Ideal for readers interested in the history of insurance theory, economic policy, and the social effects of risk management.