Those selected were:

o "An Analysis of Organizational, Market and Socio-cultural Factors Affecting the Supply of Insurance and Other Financial Services by Microfinance Institutions in Developing Economies" by W. Jean Kwon, The School of Risk Management, St. John's University, New York.

o "Successful Business Strategies for Insurers Entering and Growing Emerging Markets" by Thomas R. Berry-St?ltzle and Robert E. Hoyt, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., and Sabine Wende, University of Cologne, Cologne Germany.

o "The Cost Efficiency of Takaful Insurance Companies" by Hala Abdul Kader, Centre for Risk & Insurance Studies (CRIS), Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England; Mike Adams, School of Business and Economics, Swansea University, Swansea, England; and Philip Hardwick, Business School, University of Bournemouth, Dorset, England.

In 2010 the three papers will be published in the January issue of "The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance--Issues and Practice."

More information on "The Geneva Papers" is available online at www.genevaassociation.org/Publications/Geneva_Papers_on_Risk_and_Insurance.aspx.

The organization said executives attending the IIS Annual Seminar each year are canvassed on their most pressing concerns, and their responses form the basis for the call for papers.

"This year's award-winning papers, as well as the many other good submissions we received for the awards, bear testimony to the excellent work that is being carried out to advance the insurance sector's knowledge," said Patrick M. Liedtke, secretary general and managing director of The Geneva Association.

"The GA/IIS research program continues to grow in scope and excellence, and we are very grateful to Kyobo Life, Marsh & McLennan, and Partner Re for their generous support," said Patrick Kenny, IIS president and chief executive officer.