90 likes | 228 Vues
The Current Financial Crisis; Implications for Insurance Regulation in the United States. Presentation to The International Judicial Academy Lawrence H. Mirel, Esq. Wiley Rein LLP May 25, 2009 Washington, DC. The Current Financial Crisis; Is Regulatory Failure to Blame?.
E N D
The Current Financial Crisis; Implications for Insurance Regulation in the United States Presentation to The International Judicial Academy Lawrence H. Mirel, Esq. Wiley Rein LLP May 25, 2009 Washington, DC
The Current Financial Crisis;Is Regulatory Failure to Blame? • The rationale for regulation, especially of insurance • The current state insurance regulatory system, strengths and weaknesses • The proposed federal alternative, strengths and weaknesses • Laws vs. enforcement of those laws • Was SEC asleep at the switch?
What Went Wrong? • Unregulated products (credit default swaps) • Conflicting or overlapping regulatory authority (variable annuities) • Gramm-Leach-Bliley and the repeal of Glass-Steagal • AIG’s problems; are they unique?
Is more regulation the answer? • Limits on what regulators can do • Prevent greed? • Curb unreasonable exuberance? • Wipe out fraud? • Separation of powers; the U.S. fear of unlimited authority • Legislative vs. Executive vs. Judicial • Federal vs. State • Private vs. Public
A Systemic Risk Regulator? • What is “systemic risk”? • Who will regulate? The Fed? FDIC? New agency? • What authority will the regulator have? • Exclusive authority? • Standby authority? • Oversight authority? • Coordination only?
Too Big to Fail? • Who will systemic regulator regulate? • How and when will decision be made? • Would any insurer—other than AIG—qualify as “systemically important?”
Consider the Alternatives • Beefing up the current regulators • Closing the loopholes to ensure complete regulatory coverage of financial activities • Oversight and coordination instead of new regulation • Greater participation in global systems
Mirel’s crystal ball • Something will be done; the Obama Administration has promised • Most likely an added regulator with limited powers • To collect data, conduct studies, and issue warnings • To represent U.S. in international for a • But current regulators, state and federal, will retain their current authority
Contact Lawrence H. Mirel Wiley Rein, LLP 1776 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 (202)719-7449 Lmirel@wileyrein.com