What we read at MIC this week

Links to some interesting reads:

•  Digital Field Applications Case Study
  A new case study from Accion on the impact of Digital Finance tools. These learnings are very much applicable to the world of microinsurance. Just change the words loan application to insurance application, credit-decision to underwriting decision, loan officer to insurance agent and there you have it:

•  Why are Chinese cities flooding?
  
  This short one from The Economist from early August mentions 3 factors that have an impact on flood severity and their consequences in China: urbanization rate, urban planning and climate change. These factors are important to take into account when we trend data to assess costs of insurance cover but also reinforces the fact that insurance should be considered in a broader framework of public goods, urban planning and risk management.

• Thomas Piketty fustige des Européens qui« se donnent bonne conscience » en Afrique
  
  Very interesting visuals: statistics and comparison about African economies; plus some comments by T. Piketty on inequality and government programme funding requirements, including health care financing in Africa.

• The Best Flood Insurance You Can Bike In
  How can you not read with a title like that?