Description: In a series papers by Willmot and Lin, both exponential and non-exponential bounds for the tail probability of various compound distributions have been derived. In Wilmot, it was suggested that non-exponential bounds for the ruin probability were difficult to obtain using martingale arguments. In this note, we show how to use martingale inequalities to obtain some upper bounds for the ruin probability.

Description: We propose asymptotically correct two-sided bounds for random sums where the number of summands has an arbitrary distribution which can be viewed as ruin probabilities or accumulated claim sizes in various risk processes. The bounds are fairly new and they reveal the real accuracy of some well-known and widely used asymptotic formulas. It turns out that this accuracy can be poor and the range where these formulas give appropriate approximations depends on the shape of the tail distribution of the summands. This dependence is examined in the research.

Description: The main objective of this study is to analyze and control a surplus dependent risk process, where larger surpluses allow for a wider underwriting policy. We focus here mostly on the diffusion approximation of the risk process. The results are derived in two papers Brownian motion in Risk Theory, submitted for publication, and Surplus dependent risk processes defined by stochastic differential equations, in preparation. We only include here a long summary of these papers.

Description: This is a letter from F.G. Reynolds, University of Waterloo, to Mr. C. Smith, Cologne Life Reinsurance Co. As an assignment the author had the students in his Risk Theory class extend the method of Trobliger to three levels of risk. Both the data of Trobliger and the data of Thyrion, which can be found on pages 27 and 16 of Seal's Stochastic Theory of a Risk Business, were fitted.

Description: The objectives of this paper are to determine the extent to which Makeham's or Gompertz's laws describe recent insurance and population mortality analyze how the constants in the two laws vary with respect to some factors and propose a simple extension to Makeham's law to account for recent departures from the laws, related to difference in sex. Presented at Actuarial Research Conference at Ball State University, September 1, 1978

Description: In this paper we discuss some properties of the nth stop-loss order and their application in risk premium principles. We give a necessary condition and a sufficient condition for nth stop-loss orders. They are convenient tools to construct risk pairs with nth stop-loss orders. We show that exponential premium principles can diferentiate between losses more finely than the net premium principles under some conditions.

Description: This paper discusses a problem in corporate finance, the problem of selecting from among a group of possible economic projects. This problem most certainly involves future contingent events and is a natural for consideration by actuaries interested in expanding into non-traditional practice areas.

Description: This paper discusses a general model for calculating life contingencies including formulation of the model and net reserves and contingency reserves.

Description: This paper demonstrates that the variance of the loss function for n-year term is greater than the sum of the variances of the loss functions for n-year pure endowment and n-year regular endowment plans. The result is true for both single premiums and annual premium plans.

Description: In the context of insurance economics, the PH-transform is justified through some basic postulates on market premiums. In this paper the PH-transform is applied to the present value random variable in life insurance and annuities. It provides an alternative to the commonly used equivalence principle in life insurance and annuities premium calculation. This research project is sponsored by a joint AERF/CKER Grant of the Society of Actuaries.