What principle protects insurers from adverse selection by balancing poor risks with preferred risks?

The principle that protects insurers from adverse selection by balancing poor risks with preferred risks is the concept of profitable distribution of exposure. This principle is critical in insurance underwriting, as it ensures that the pool of insured individuals includes a mix of both high-risk and low-risk individuals.

By maintaining a balanced risk pool, insurers can effectively manage their overall risk exposure. It helps to prevent a scenario where only high-risk individuals purchase insurance policies, which would lead to higher claims and potential financial losses for the insurer. The objective is to create a sustainable and profitable portfolio by achieving a distribution where the premiums collected from the insured adequately cover the anticipated claims.

In contrast, the other options refer to different concepts in risk management. Legal hazard pertains to the legal environment affecting risk and can lead to increased liabilities. Important risks is a vague term that does not specifically address the dynamics of risk distribution. Moral hazard describes a situation where one party may take risks because they are insulated from the consequences, typically due to having insurance. These concepts are connected to risk but do not specifically address the balancing of risks that is central to profitable distribution of exposure.