Chapter 5 Informal Transactional/Effectual Networks and Entrepreneurial Innovation in Response to Uncertainty: A View on the Global Insurance Industry

The procedures and rules the insurance industry writes in the polices it sells amount to a form of private legislation enforced by the state. Such authority creates a powerful lever for social change, from easing the diffusion to new technologies to slowing climate change. What maintains a sense of fairness in the way insurance firms shape society is an informal but stable network that interconnects them around the globe. A handful of specialist firms occupy key notes in maintaining this network. While these specialists aggressively compete over market share and profits, they also prioritize long-term relationships with their clients and competitors.