Description: This paper explores a range of public policy issues stemming from proposals to introduce some form of defined contribution system into Social Security in the U. S. and Canada. From In Defense of Pay-as-You-Go Paygo Financing of Social Security, M-RS99-1.

Description: This paper recommends a 'macroview' of the Social Security program that is related to the broader economic and social environment now and in the future. OASDI is not simply a private-sector pension plan on a large scale. Instead, it provides socially determined claims on the future economy. Demography cannot be ignored, but it is not the sole determinant of what is desirable or affordable. From The Old-Age Crisis - Actuarial Opportunities -The 1996 Bowles Symposium, M-RS99-1.

Description: Estimation of hazard rates at extremely old ages poses serious challenges to researchers: 1 The observed mortality deceleration may be at least partially an artifact of mixing different birth cohorts with different mortality heterogeneity effect 2 Standard assumptions of hazard rate estimates may be invalid when risk of death is extremely high at old ages 3 Ages of very old people may be exaggerated. In this paper we propose an alternative approach, which gives an opportunity to resolve the first two problems by compiling data for more homogeneous single-year birth cohorts with hazard rates measured at narrow monthly age intervals. Possible ways of resolving the third problem of hazard rate estimation were elaborated.

Description: Estimation of hazard rates at extremely old ages poses serious challenges to researchers: 1 The observed mortality deceleration may be at least partially an artifact of mixing different birth cohorts with different mortality heterogeneity effect 2 Standard assumptions of hazard rate estimates may be invalid when risk of death is extremely high at old ages 3 Ages of very old people may be exaggerated. In this paper we propose an alternative approach, which gives an opportunity to resolve the first two problems by compiling data for more homogeneous single-year birth cohorts with hazard rates measured at narrow monthly age intervals. Possible ways of resolving the third problem of hazard rate estimation were elaborated.

Description: A glossary of terms.

Description: Essay reforming healthcare where participants have a vested interest in reaching the best answer.

Description: Presented at Living to 100 Symposium, January 2011. The first part of this paper gives background material on the existing Canadian Income Security system, including both government-sponsored systems and private sector supplements. The second part is the report from the Canadian Institute of Actuaries' Task Force on Government-Facilitated Retirement Income Plans published March 2010, which provided actuarial input to the Canadian pension reform debate.

Description: This paper defends the concept of raising the minimum age for collecting Social Security benefits from the present 62 to age 65. From The Old-Age Crisis - Actuarial Opportunities - The 1996 Bowles Symposium, M-RS99-1.

Description: Successful healthcare reform: First, it must help that must keep healthy people healthy. Second, it must help people mitigate or eliminate the health-risks associated with unhealthy lifestyle behavior choices, and Third, it must ensure the provision of evidence-based care to those who are ill.

Description: This paper examines disincentives for long careers created by Social Security. The paper then discusses the subsequent stress on public and private pension systems caused by increasingly long retirements.