VERSICHERUNGEN IM DIGITALEN ZEITALTER MIT SOZIALÖKONOMISCHER ÜBERSICHT

Abstract

For the European insurance industry, the digital age can be associated with improved quality in almost all areas of customer service, greater flexibility in administration and increased productivity. However, contrary to some populist-chauvinist views, long-term success depends to a large extent on the socio-economic stability of the European Union in the coming years. In an EU that needs to be reformed as quickly as possible, it should be in the primary economic and socio- political interest of all member states to jointly achieve the highest possible quality of life and security for its citizens. The basis for this is the EU-wide framework conditions, which also impose the greatest obligations on those who benefit the most from consumers/citizens. If the tax and social security loopholes that protect the richest among the privileged capitalists are closed, then higher incomes for citizens will automatically be ensured. There will also be a growing trend towards solidarity, which will be practiced in the sense of taking on some responsibility for the community. In the future, the greatest attention must be paid to respecting the “domestic” EU rules, i.e. the provisions on social security. The greater the purchasing power of the broad strata of the population, the greater the likelihood that a large number of companies will (again) achieve economic success. Digital progress, in almost all sectors, from small and medium-sized enterprises to the largest corporate chains and communities of states, today allows: greater security of income and energy supply; monitoring of socio-economic processes and protection from various dangerous external influences. In order to protect oneself from the devastating consequences, even in the event of accidents (which can never be completely avoided), appropriate insurance policies are taken out. Digitally supported processing allows insurers to speed up the settlement of claims in the event of an emergency, and by paying out insurance to companies whose existence is at risk, jobs and social security contributions can be preserved and, ultimately, and importantly, all group insurance contracts sponsored by companies. In other words, multiple economic benefits can be achieved. In this context, it is worth recalling that the European insurance industry has not only been influenced by progress and economic development since the 19th century, but has also been able to play a decisive role in shaping them. The extent to which this is possible is determined by the insurance policies of the states (communities). They issue licenses or bans; they promote, tax and monitor the industry. These measures are mainly intended to protect citizens as consumers, entrepreneurs and taxpayers in risk communities, and not to benefit privileged groups. "Finally, it is important to keep in mind that European digitalization processes with socio-economic depth also require a long-term solution to the problem of unemployment at the European level and securing the EU's external borders."