Why Do Insurance Companies Use Ambiguous Language In Their Policies? A Bibliometric Review

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the reasons for insurance companies using ambiguous language in their insurance policies. A bibliometric and content analysis method was used by analyzing papers published from1985to 2020 and employing VOS viewer to conduct multiple sets of analyses. The results revealed five clusters and streams on ambiguity: optimal insurance, ambiguity aversion, insurance contracts, uncertainty, and risk assessment. The results confirmed the growing interest in studying ambiguity in insurance contracts and how the legal system handles ambiguity in insurance contracts. This research paper could be a starting point for future research to expand the scope of the investigation and provide background on the purpose of drafting insurance contracts in an ambiguous way and the overall impact of that drafting approach on both insurance companies and policyholders.

Keywords: Insurance, Ambiguity, Insurance Contracts, Bibliometrics, Research Agenda