Richard Peter
Nationwide Professor
Primary Office
S320 Pappajohn Business Building
Introduction
My research interests include decision-making under risk and uncertainty and how it applies to risk management and insurance decisions. I mostly use methods from microeconomic theory in the context of people's behavior under uncertainty.
Current Positions
- Professor, Finance
- Professor, Economics
- Nationwide Professor, Finance
Education
- PhD in Finance, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
- MA in Business Research, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
- Diploma in Mathematics, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
Research Interests
- Risk management and insurance
- Decision-making under risk and uncertainty
Selected Awards & Honors
- David and Lois Gardner Faculty Award for Mid-Career Excellence - Tippie College of Business, 2024
- Collegiate Teaching Award - Tippie College of Business, 2021
- Young Economist Best Paper Award - SCOR & European Group of Risk and Insurance Economists, 2020
- Early Career Faculty Research Award - Tippie College of Business, 2020
- Early Career Scholarly Achievement Award - American Risk and Insurance Association, 2020
- Cannon Faculty Scholarship for Teaching Excellence - Tippie College of Business, 2018
- Ernst-Meyer Prize - The Geneva Association, 2013
- Faculty/Staff Member Making Positive Difference in the Life of a Graduating Senior - University of Iowa, 2023
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award - Tippie College of Business, 2019
- Excellence in Reviewing Award - Journal of Risk and Insurance, 2019
Professional Memberships
- European Group of Risk and Insurance Economists, 2011
- Risk Theory Society, 2011
- American Risk and Insurance Association, 2010
Selected Publications
- Heinzel, C. & Peter, R. (2023). Precaution with multiple instruments: The importance of substitution effects. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 207 pp. 392-412.
- Golinghorst, D., De Paor, A., Joly, Y., Macdonald, A., Otlowski, M., Peter, R., & Prince, A. (2022). Anti-selection & Genetic Testing in Insurance: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 50 (1) pp. 139-154.
- Courbage, C., Peter, R., & Rey, B. (2022). Incentive and welfare effects of correlated returns. Journal of Risk and Insurance. 89 (1) pp. 5-34.
- Jaspersen, J., Peter, R., & Ragin, M. (2023). Probability weighting and insurance demand in a unified framework. Geneva Risk and Insurance Review. 48 pp. 63-109.
- Peter, R. (2021). Prevention as a Giffen good. Economics Letters. 208.
- Li, L. & Peter, R. (2021). Should we do more when we know less? The effect of technology risk on optimal effort. Journal of Risk and Insurance. 88 (3) pp. 695-725.
- Menegatti, M. & Peter, R. (2022). Changes in risky benefits and in risky costs: A question of the right order. Management Science. 68 (5) pp. 3625-3634.
- Courbage, C. & Peter, R. (2021). On the effect of uncertainty on personal vaccination decisions. Health Economics. 30 (11) pp. 2937-2942.
- Peter, R. (2021). Who should exert more effort? Risk aversion, downside risk aversion and optimal prevention. Economic Theory. 71 (4) pp. 1259-1281.
- Peter, R. (2021). A fresh look at primary prevention for health risks. Health Economics. 30 (5) pp. 1247-1254.
Working Papers
- Peter, R. & Toquebeuf, P. (2025). Mean-preserving capacities: Theory and applications.
- Macé, S. & Peter, R. (2024). Overreaction to low-probability risks.
- Peter, R., Richter, A., & Thistle, P. (2017). Ambiguity aversion in competitive insurance markets with asymmetric information.
- Crainich, D. & Peter, R. (2017). Precautionary saving when agents can reduce risk.
- Peter, R. & Sandner, K. (2017). What drives bargaining outcomes? Comparative Statics of the Generalized Nash Bargaining Solution.
- Peter, R. (2016). The Critical Loading Factor in Insurance.
- Peter, R. & Sandner, K. (2015). Achieving financial, CSR, and societal goals when principals disagree - An analysis on the role of bargaining power.
- Chi, Y., Wei, W., & Peter, R. (2025). Revisiting optimal insurance design under smooth ambiguity aversion.
- Jaspersen, J. G., Peter, R., & Ragin, M. A. (2024). Insurance and the preference for early resolution of uncertainty.
- Rey, B. & Peter, R. (2024). The many faces of multivariate risk-taking.
Employment History
- Nationwide Associate Professor, Finance, University of Iowa, 2024 - 2025
- TriStar Research Fellow, Finance, University of Iowa, 2022 - 2024