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1 – 10 of over 10000The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Islamic beliefs in moderating consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions of conventional and Islamic life insurance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Islamic beliefs in moderating consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions of conventional and Islamic life insurance. Second, it investigates the role of Islamic beliefs in moderating the relationship between the attitude toward conventional/Islamic life insurance and purchase intentions of these types of services.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was administered online in a Muslim liberal country where both types of insurance are offered. Based on a total sample of 207 responses, ANOVA tests and a structural Equation Modeling were used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings
Results show that: the higher (lower) the Islamic beliefs of individuals, the less (more) favorable their attitude will be toward conventional life insurance and the more (less) favorable their attitude will be toward Islamic life insurance; the higher (lower) the Islamic beliefs of individuals, the weaker (stronger) their purchase intentions for conventional life insurance will be and the stronger (weaker) their purchase intentions for Islamic life insurance will be; and Islamic beliefs moderate the relationships between attitudes and purchase intentions of life insurance.
Practical implications
Because they play a significant role in moderating consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions of conventional and Islamic life insurance, Islamic beliefs can be used as a meaningful criterion to segment the life insurance markets in (less conservative) Muslim countries. This would help insurance companies to better target their services. In a case where two segments coexist (i.e. individuals scoring low on Islamic beliefs vs individuals scoring high on Islamic beliefs), insurers should weigh different strategic options by targeting one of the two segments or both of them. Perhaps the main issue occurs when an insurer attempts to target both segments. In this case, managers should be aware of the confusion that they might create in the mind of their clients (or potential clients). Concurrently offering two types of life insurance (conventional and Islamic) may put the insurers’ credibility at stake.
Originality/value
Earlier studies report that in Muslim countries, the demand for life insurance is weak or negatively correlated with religion. The majority of these studies consider religion as a macro indicator (i.e. at the country level) when explaining the demand for such services. The present study further clarifies the nature of the relationship between religion and the demand for life insurance by: examining the role of Islamic beliefs (as one of the main dimensions of Muslims’ religiosity) at the micro level (i.e. at the consumer level); and investigating the moderating role of Islamic beliefs in explaining attitudes and purchase intentions of conventional and Islamic life insurance in a less conservative Muslim country.
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Waheed Akhter, Hassan Jamil and Kim-Shyan Fam
This paper aims to identify Islamic influence on customer satisfaction in Pakistan Takaful and conventional insurance industry. Specifically, it analyses the vital role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify Islamic influence on customer satisfaction in Pakistan Takaful and conventional insurance industry. Specifically, it analyses the vital role of Shari’ah perception in achieving higher customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
The data from 400 customers of both the family Takāful and life insurance (200 each) were collected. Further, the regression-based bootstrapping approach was applied through process macro developed by Hayes (2013).
Findings
The results indicate that a higher Shari’ah perception positively affects the customer satisfaction in the Takaful industry with improved service and relationship quality; whereas, it negatively affects customer satisfaction in case of the conventional insurance. Further, it has been found that customer satisfaction partially mediates the customer switching intentions in both the Takaful and conventional insurance industry in the presence of service quality and relationship quality.
Practical implications
This research will enable the practitioners to understand the factors that affect customer satisfaction in Pakistan. It has the essential policy and managerial implications for the growth of the Takaful and conventional insurance industry.
Originality/value
This is one of the pioneer studies investigating the impact of Islamic influence (specifically Shari’ah perception) on customer satisfaction in both the Takaful and conventional insurance industry in Pakistan.
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Yusuff Jelili Amuda and Sarah Alabdulrahman
Conventional insurance creates a gap in the financial system across the world that manifests from the global financial and economic crisis. There is an increasing demand for…
Abstract
Purpose
Conventional insurance creates a gap in the financial system across the world that manifests from the global financial and economic crisis. There is an increasing demand for insurance schemes that will bridge the gap of financial and economic crisis globally. More recently, there is an advocacy in Saudi Arabia for achieving Vision 2030 by various facets of human endeavours such as strengthening financial markets and boasting economic development. The purpose of this paper is to deeply explore policy and reinforcement of the legal framework of Islamic insurance as essential bedrocks in Islamic finance that are Shari’ah compliant to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 for overall sustainability of all spheres of human endeavours in the country.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis and systematic literature review are used as methodological approaches in this paper. There are various sources of accessing secondary data used in this study such as online peer review, journals and library-based sources. Through the exploration of various secondary data, five major themes were identified in this study, namely, policy, legal framework, Islamic insurance, Islamic finance and Saudi Vision 2030. Analysis of various themes were done systematically in this paper. The methodology provides theoretical and practical foundations for reinforcing policy and legal framework for Islamic insurance, specifically in Islamic finance to achieve Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. It is the policy and legal framework that can provide necessary dynamics for strengthening Islamic insurance in particular and Islamic finance in general towards attaining sustainable Vision 2030 in the country.
Findings
The paper demonstrated that policy period is explicitly associated with Islamic insurance, whereby Takaful insurance is regarded as policyholder rather than shareholder-oriented. Similarly, it is established that there is need to specifically mention the policy period and the nature of contract in Islamic insurance should not be limited to only mutual cooperation among the participants in connection with the losses but it should capture element of sharing income generated from investment between insurer and policyholders using predetermined ratio for such as provided with theoretical legal framework (Shari’ah) in connection with Islamic insurance model as an integral part of Islamic finance.
Research limitations/implications
It will depart completely from conventional insurance where borrowing of funds and investment are put at fixed interest (Riba), uncertainty (Gharar) and speculative ideas (Maisir). Avoidance of different elements ascribed with conventional insurance would enable Saudi Arabia to strengthen financial system and boast economic development with an emphasis on an effective policy and efficient legal framework towards attaining Vision 2030 in the country.
Practical implications
The methodology provides theoretical and practical foundations for reinforcing policy and legal framework for Islamic insurance, specifically in Islamic finance to achieve Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia.
Social implications
Conventional insurance creates a gap in financial system across the world that manifests from the global financial and economic crisis. There is an increasing demand for insurance scheme that will bridge the gap of financial and economic crisis globally. More recently, there is an advocacy in Saudi Arabia for achieving Vision 2030 by various facets of human endeavours such as strengthening financial market and boasting economic development.
Originality/value
With this emphasis, it will depart completely from conventional insurance where borrowing of funds and investment are put at fixed interest (Riba), uncertainty (Gharar) and speculative ideas (Maisir). Avoidance of different elements ascribed with conventional insurance would enable Saudi Arabia to strengthen financial system and boast economic development with an emphasis on an effective policy and efficient legal framework towards attaining Vision 2030 in the country.
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The concept of Takaful has a long history. It is linked with the era of Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago. The globalization and development of socio-economic systems have made…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of Takaful has a long history. It is linked with the era of Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago. The globalization and development of socio-economic systems have made business activities more complex in response to emerging human needs and requirements. Similarly, Takaful insurance has fully commercialized and become an important indicator of the international financial market. The purpose of this study is to understand the Takaful mechanism and progression of its procedures to date since its inception.
Design/methodology/approach
This study seeks to examine the origin, evolution and historical developments of Takaful mechanism, operations, models and governing framework with extant literature review from previous studies and current practices.
Findings
The modern Takaful insurance first began in Sudan back in 1979. The Takaful operations must abide by the Sharia laws and work under the supervision of the Sharia Supervisory Board. Since its evolution, Sharia scholars have introduced various Takaful models that are going to be explained in this study. Moreover, several Islamic organizations, including the “Islamic Financial Services Board” and the “Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions,” have provided guidelines and supervision to develop and strengthen the Takaful industry further. The study acknowledges Takaful as a growing insurance industry with huge potential and promising future in both Pakistan and the international market.
Practical implications
During the analysis, various deficiencies and loopholes were identified, which are responsible for the unmatched growth of conventional insurance. They can be eliminated with the joint efforts of industrial players, Sharia scholars and Takaful insurance companies. Hence, Islamic scholars and academic researchers are encouraged to develop and modify the current practices of Takaful mechanism according to current market demands and consumer approach. The research efforts will help Takaful operators to develop more innovative Takaful products adhering Sharia compliance. Consequently, it will help to access more consumer market and further enhances the Takaful growth.
Originality/value
This study is an effort to provide a basic understanding of the mechanism of Takaful models. The study helps to comprehend how Takaful models have evolved and been modified over the course of time. Moreover, it provides a base for further development and improvement in current practices of Takaful models, which will result in increased progress for the Takaful industry.
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Meerna Mroueh and André de Waal
Islamic finance is an interesting field of research, as it represents an alternative to conventional finance for Muslims. It is a way of conducting finance based on the principles…
Abstract
Purpose
Islamic finance is an interesting field of research, as it represents an alternative to conventional finance for Muslims. It is a way of conducting finance based on the principles of Islam and prohibition of interest. Islamic finance can be divided into two areas: Islamic banking and Islamic insurance (Takaful). This paper aims to describe a research study on the applicability of the high-performance organization (HPO) framework on Takaful insurance companies and whether it can improve their performance in a sustainable way.
Design/methodology/approach
The factors and characteristics of the HPO framework are theoretically matched with the characteristics of the Takaful industry for evaluating whether these reinforce or weaken each other. The outcome of this matching process gives an indication of whether it is easier or more difficult for Takaful insurance companies, compared with conventional companies, to apply the HPO framework and transform themselves into HPOs.
Findings
It can be theoretically expected that, out of 35 HPO characteristics, 10 will be easier to strengthen in Takaful organizations compared with conventional organizations and 9 will be more difficult, and for 16 characteristics, there will be no difference. These results suggest that, most likely, it does not make a difference whether UAE Takaful organizations or conventional organizations implement the HPO framework, they will probably need roughly the same amount of effort to make a successful transition.
Research limitations/implications
In a follow-up study, the HPO framework will be applied at several Takaful insurance companies to evaluate the operation of the framework in practice.
Originality value
To date, no studies of the HPO framework and HPOs have been conducted at Takaful insurance companies in the UAE. Thus, by theoretically matching the HPO framework with Takaful organizations, the study fills a gap in the management literature regarding high-performance improvement techniques for Takaful organizations.
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Elias Abu Al-Haija and Asma Houcine
The purpose of this study is to extend previous literature and examine risk management efficiency among Takaful (TI) and conventional insurance (CI) firms in the Kingdom of Saudi…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to extend previous literature and examine risk management efficiency among Takaful (TI) and conventional insurance (CI) firms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study also aims to determine whether Takaful firms are more efficient in managing risks, compared to CI firms.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines risk management efficiency among Takaful and CI firms in the KSA and the UAE for a sample of 20 insurance firms comprising 10 TI firms and 10 CI firms for the period 2018–2020. The authors use Data Envelopment Analysis to estimate efficiency scores among insurance companies to compare risk management efficiency between CI and TI companies and apply two-way analysis of variance to statistically analyze the data.
Findings
The results of this study show that TI firms have a higher efficiency score than CI firms, but not significantly and that insurance firms in KSA have higher efficiency scores than insurance firms in UAE. The results also reveal that TI firms did not significantly outperform CI firms in managing risks; however, there is a significant difference in efficiency scores among insurance firms in KSA and UAE.
Research limitations/implications
The authors also contribute to the literature by providing important insights into how the operational business environment of the country can influence the risk management efficiency of CI and TI companies.
Practical implications
This study promotes understanding the insurance industry, its efficiency and risk management, thus offering key implications for decision-makers, regulators and managers associated with the insurance industry in UAE, KSA and other emerging insurance markets. Regulators could provide enabling policies that foster and promote the business environment, as there is a need to improve risk management efficiency in the insurance industry. Also, the results of this study show that the operating status of the UAE insurance industry in terms of efficiency and risk management is lower than that of KSA. Hence, it would be useful for UAE managers and regulators in taking steps to improve the overall insurance industry market.
Originality/value
The results of this study make significant contributions by providing new insights to the existing literature on the risk management efficiency in the insurance industry, as it adopts a different methodological approach that examines risk management efficiency among TI and CI companies.
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Syed Ali Raza, Rehan Ahmed, Muhammad Ali and Muhammad Asif Qureshi
The role of insurance is a backbone for consumers to secure their future. It is important to know where to invest and what are the benefits. Therefore, for the Muslim segment…
Abstract
Purpose
The role of insurance is a backbone for consumers to secure their future. It is important to know where to invest and what are the benefits. Therefore, for the Muslim segment, Islamic insurance system provides Riba (interest)-free environment where consumers invest their money and recover their losses according to sharia. This paper aims to examine the determinants that influence purchase intention of consumers toward Islamic insurance (Takaful) adoption in Pakistan with the help of the modified theory of planned behavior (TPB).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors added four specific variables related to Islamic sharia compliance in the conventional form of the TPB. The relationship among the variables is assessed by using partial least squares structural equation modeling, while the data are collected from 305 respondents.
Findings
The results suggest that attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control are strong predictors of an Islamic insurance adoption in Pakistan. Moreover, factors such as compatibility, relative advantage and awareness have positive and significant impacts on takaful participation. A negative but insignificant relation is found between perceived risk and intention.
Practical implications
This paper provides insight for understanding the factors that lead to consumers' purchase intention of Islamic insurance.
Originality/value
This paper makes a unique contribution to the literature with reference to Pakistan, being a pioneering attempt to investigate the factors of Islamic insurance adoption by modifying the TPB and applying more rigorous statistical techniques like confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and partial least square structural equation modeling.
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Burhanuddin Susamto and Akhmad Akbar Susamto
This paper aims to develop a novel approach to Islamic deposit insurance, specifically addressing the deficiencies in the current prevailing models of Islamic deposit insurance.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a novel approach to Islamic deposit insurance, specifically addressing the deficiencies in the current prevailing models of Islamic deposit insurance.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis in this paper adopts a qualitative content analysis approach to review the existing literature on Islamic deposit insurance and propose a new model.
Findings
The proposed model includes a revised scheme. In the event of a bank failure, the funds used to reimburse depositors of the failed bank are divided into two distinct categories. The first category includes nonrepayable premiums that have been previously paid by the failed bank and managed by the Islamic deposit insurance agency or Islamic deposit insurance corporation. The second category comprises qard hasan, an interest-free loan provided by the Islamic deposit insurance agency or Islamic deposit insurance corporation using the deposit insurance funds from the collective pool of premiums of other banks.
Practical implications
The proposed model ensures that well-managed banks are not unfairly burdened by the failures of their poorly managed counterparts, thus preventing a sense of unfairness and inefficiency. Implementing the proposed model may result in higher business practices and risk management standards, ultimately leading to better depositors’ protection and banking system’s stability.
Originality/value
This paper offers a significant contribution to the limited literature on Islamic deposit insurance. The proposed model enriches the discourse and offers valuable insights for the future development of Islamic banking.
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This paper aims to provide an essential framework for establishing Shariah-compliant deposit insurance scheme, by reviewing the Shariah provisions concerning the available…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an essential framework for establishing Shariah-compliant deposit insurance scheme, by reviewing the Shariah provisions concerning the available approaches for deposit guarantee, types of deposits in Islamic financial institutions and the permissible party to incur the cost of this guarantee.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the Fiqh rules and principles approved by the well-known Islamic Fiqh references, as well as the resolutions of International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and Shariah standards issued by Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), and presents these resolutions and judgments in a modern applicable way.
Findings
This paper recommends that the Islamic scheme for deposit insurance should be established based on Takaful insurance principle, and this scheme must adopt fund segregation principle to comply with Shariah provisions for guarantee permissibility.
Research limitations/implications
The paper bridges the gap between theory and practice by highlighting how the proposed model can be initiated in practice, thus, it can influence public policy in countries with Islamic banking system.
Originality/value
This paper represents a significant contribution toward the establishment of a consensual Shariah-compliant Islamic deposit insurance model.
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Ahmed Mansoor Alkhan and M. Kabir Hassan
The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis on whether takaful operators actually maintain separated and segregated accounts between the operator and participants’ funds…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis on whether takaful operators actually maintain separated and segregated accounts between the operator and participants’ funds, thereby conforming to Shariah compliance requirements or not.
Design/methodology/approach
The research uses a qualitative methodology by analysing secondary data relating to two takaful operators in each of the jurisdictions of the Kingdoms of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Findings
The findings generally reveal that the financial statements and Shariah Supervisory Board annual reports of the takaful operators in the Kingdom of Bahrain confirm the Shariah-required maintenance of separate accounts between the operator and participants, as well as reveal transparency-related issues and Shariah governance weaknesses for takaful operators in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Research limitations/implications
Generalizing based on a single case study may affect the accuracy of the findings. It may also be argued that qualitative researches are generally considered as less valid than quantitative researches.
Originality/value
This research may have provided empirical data that did not previously exist in the literature.
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