Description: This paper describes risk-factor-dependent multiple decrements and actuarial cost functions as a general compartment model, a discrete time and discrete state stochastic model of morbidity and mortality processes. For large numbers of risk factors, the model is extended to its natural continuous time and state form. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1991, Vol. 43.

Description: This discussion on premium differentials examines if a graduation of premium rates by policy size is feasible or desirable as well as if it is practical to give lower premium rates to females.

Description: In this paper, a mathematical model is constructed to study the deviations of claims, investment performance, operating expenses, and lapse expenses as random stochastic processes. Discussions of the paper submitted by 2 readers follows

Description: This paper examines the effects of selection procedures used in epidemiologic studies and suggests that similar procedures could be employed to select standard ordinary insurance risks at the older ages. The experience in this paper was developed from a prospective epidemiologic investigation launched by the American Cancer Society in the fall of 1959 to learn how personal characteristics, living styles, and environmental conditions influence health and longevity.

Description: This piece is a discussion of Mel Stein's paper entitled, 'A New Approach to the Calculation of Active Life Disability Reserves.'

Description: Examination of how mean reserve factors can best be calculated in light of the new accounting reporting requirements for the earnings of stock life insurance companies. Also examines some methods of expense amortization, including the reserve factor method, and also attempt to show an informative comparison of how reported calendar-year earnings can be expected to emerge with statutory mean reserve factors, natural mean reserve factors, and assorted expense amortization methods. Followed by several submitted discussion papers

Description: This paper examines tandem levels of salary and interest rates and finds that the absolute level of each assumption as well as the differential are significant cost determinants for defined benefit pension plans. In forming best-estimate salary and interest rate assumptions, the actuary must reconcile the difference, if any, between the currently observed rates and the valuation assumptions. Common practice is to choose expected long-term rather than observed rates for valuation purposes. The error in this procedure is analyzed and found to be tolerable for strictly temporary discrepancies between observed rates and valuation assumptions. For situations where these discrepancies are expected to persist for some time, a need is shown for nonuniform, calendar-year assumptions or their equivalent in order to develop best-estimate assumptions. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: Presentation of certain commutation functions and net single premiums for widows pension benefits

Description: This paper presents an introduction to collective risk theory. In collective risk theory one seeks to investigate directly the risk enterprise as a whole. Primary interest is focused not upon the gains, losses, or claims from individual policies but upon the amount of total claims or the total gain arising from all the policies in the portfolio considered. Followed by several discussion papers submitted.

Description: Report covering the mortality experience from 1945 to 1950 anniversaries under the following three major categories of contracts: 1. Life income settlements arising out of death claims 2. Life income settlements arising out of the maturity of endowment or retirement income policies or the cash surrender of insurance or annuity contracts 3. Maturities of deferred annuity contracts