Regulation versus competition : an assessment of regulation’s impacts on title insurance premiums

textThis study uses a multilevel model of change to assess the effects of five distinguished regulation styles in title insurance on insurance premiums. This study finds that the states promulgating title insurance premiums have higher charges than the states allowing free competition in the title insurance market. The other regulation styles do not have significantly different impacts on title insurance premiums from free competition. In addition, market characteristics such as home sales, housing price, and property value can also influence title insurance premiums. This study explains the title insurance premium variation among states. The research outcomes can also provide insights into the ongoing regulatory reform in title insurance, in particular in the states using the promulgation regulation style.Statistic