Final answer:
Risk-based capital requirements ensure that financial institutions have capital proportional to the risks they take, mandating actions if requirements are not met.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of risk-based capital requirements is crucial in the regulation of banks and insurance companies, helping to ensure these institutions maintain adequate capitalization in relation to their risk profiles. This regulatory approach mandates that financial institutions must have a specific level of capital commensurate with the overall riskiness of their investments and insurance liabilities.
Moreover, insurers are indeed required to take certain actions if their capital levels fall short of these prescribed requirements, which could range from reducing risk exposure to raising additional capital.