Description: Since spring, with the marked improvement in the payments deficit of the United States, the climate for discussion of reform of the world currency systems has become much more favorable. Perhaps our subject today should more fittingly be entitled Monetary Reform for the World Economy. Discussion focuses on the steps that can be taken to insure that enough liquidity will be provided to finance expanding world trade while maintaining stable price levels, and on how reform measures can be drawn to avoid the danger that additional liquidity will encourage countries to run chronic deficits.

Description: This is a panel discussion about the economic outlook, particulary with respect to interest rates, the behavior since World War II and the outlook for the future. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1962, Vol. 14 Pt. 2

Description: Financial economics is the discipline underlying all financial services. No matter what your area of specialty or your role in your organization, an understanding of financial economics is essential. As you will learn in this module, financial economics is the study of how individuals and institutions acquire, save, and invest money. These activities are fundamental to institutions and individuals. Thus, not only will this module help you be a more knowledgeable actuary, it will also help you with your personal financial planning.

Description: View information on the Health Economics Module.

Description: This article examines Consumer Price Index, how it works and some considerations when using it in financial agreements.

Description: Arguments for establishing a monetary system based on an aggregate commodity standard.

Description: Exploration of sources of volatility in retiree health valuations, noting how volatility arises and might be mitigated, with discussion of valuation parameters more problematic for retiree health benefits than for pensions. Three significant influences on retiree health valuation volatility are covered-- changes in benefit level, fluctuations in cost level, and alterations in eligibility for, or duration of, benefit – and attention focused on the last two. Specific conclusions result in recommendations, which are supported by practical examples contrasting volatile measurement results with those likely from the recommended practices. Theoretical discussion includes health claim variation, health trend usage, financial economics, option pricing, discount rates, and deterministic vs. stochastic modeling.

Description: This paper argues that no single valuation basis is completely reliable: neither market price nor other alternatives can accurately measure value. Therefore, this paper proposes that a preferable solution is to simultaneously record two bases of valuation: market price and appraisal value. Thus by expanding the dimensionality of financial reporting, one can provide a broader, richer and more accurate measurement of value. Presented at 2010 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, Society of Actuaries, April 12-15, 2010

Description: This paper presents a generalization of the principal current methods of financial decision making. In the way physical sciences benefit from new general theories that encompass those theories they succeed, the science of finance can benefit from the development of a general framework that encompasses many of the current methods of financial analysis. The paper develops a general framework for financial decision-making from a few simple axioms of rational economic behavior.

Description: Part II of this discussion focuses on current investment and funding practices for pension plans. Taken from the March 2005 issue of the Bulletin of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.