"Published in association with the United Nations New York, April 2015"--Title page

Introduction / Nazrul Islam and Rob Vos -- Globalization, Offshoring, and Economic Insecurity in Industrialized Countries / William Milberg and Deborah Winkler -- Managing Financial Instability in Developing Countries: Why Prudence is Not Enough / Yilmaz Akyüz -- Insurance, Credit, and Safety Nets for the Poor in a World of Risk / Daniel Clarke and Stefan Dercon -- Assessing the Success of Microinsurance Programs in Meeting the Insurance Needs of the Poor / Paul Mosley -- Assessing the Insurance Role of Microsavings / David Hulme, Karen Moore, and Armando Barrientos -- Can Microfinance Reduce Economic Insecurity and Poverty? By How Much and How? / Nazrul Islam -- Insurance against Losses from Natural Disasters in Developing Countries / Joanne Linnerooth-Bayer and Reinhard Mechler

The world is witnessing the paradox of simultaneous increase in income and insecurity. According to available data, global average per capita income has increased in recent decades, while at the same time actual and perceived insecurity has also increased. This paradox is true for both developed and developing countries. However, the concrete form and causes of insecurity differs across these two groups of countries. To the extent that income levels in many developing countries are very low, economic insecurity in these countries takes a starker and chronic form. In Financing for Overcoming Economic Insecurity, leading experts examine the causes and consequences of rising economic insecurity and policy measures that can be adopted to overcome insecurity. The volume contains papers addressing issues of economic insecurity pertaining to both developed and developing countries and caused by both economic factors and natural hazards. It also discusses the issues at both macro and micro levels. The volume's focus on policy measures, such as redistribution and reinvestment of profit income in developed countries and imposition of capital control and promotion of micro insurance in developing countries, should be of much help to policymakers as well as researchers. --Provided by publisher