Cover (March 16)
Disclosure of “how many claims are paid out is absolutely the right thing to do” in the insurance industry. “Paying claims is the only way our industry can prove its worth to its customers and advisers…. This is why publication is so important. Claims statistics give advisers the evidence to help them reassure clients who believe policies hardly ever pay out. Honesty and openness is the best policy.”
Tags: Advisers, Claims, Customers, Disclosure, Evidence, Honesty, Insurance, Openness, Statistics
The Economist (October 29)
Technology is improving to the point where it may one day be able to read minds. While this could be a boon in many ways, especially to those who are physically impaired, this sort of complete honesty “would lead to disaster, for lying is at the heart of civilisation…. Call it diplomacy, public relations or simple good manners: lying is one of the things that makes the world go round.”
Tags: Diplomacy, Honesty, Lying, Manners, Technology