Description: The following topics were discussed at concurrent sessions: 1. Independence of the actuary, 2. Problems posed by United States pension legislation, 3. Registered equity products, including variable life insurance, variable annuities, and mutual funds, 4. Limits to growth, and 5. Maintenance of high standards in a profession. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1974 Vol. 26, Pt. 2D, No. 76.

Description: One component of this project is to model the impact of population structure on returns across asset classes. Previous research suggests that an overlapping generations (OLG) model is an appropriate modeling approach. This literature review has been prepared to provide background information regarding OLG models and the diversity and complexity that may be introduced into such models. This review has been prepared to provide a fuller discussion of some of the characteristics that may be especially relevant in our decision-making regarding the model we will build.

Description: Women have different resources and experiences than men in retirement, partly due to demographic and life cycle differences and partly due to societal practices. This article reviews the differences, the situation 25 years ago, and then compares the situation 25 years ago to the situation today. Some of the big long lasting issues are differences in life spans and periods of disability, differences in pay, different shares of caregiving responsibility and differences of time out of the workplace. It finds some things that have improved, but other issues that existed 25 years ago have still not been addressed. New issues have arisen. The article draws on a presentation given at the 25th anniversary of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER). It also focuses on the impact of COVID and the changes that have taken place in the workplace in the last few years. It provides insights into and discussions of the pros and cons of remote and hybrid work arrangements. It provides insights into issues that still need to be addressed.

Description: As the population and workforce age, it is important to rethink how and when we retire. This article provides a big picture overview of issues related to opening up more options for exit from the labor force and gradual retirement. It reviews developments in the last few years that are important including the growth of gig employment, more remote work, more technology, workforce shortages, and changes in employee benefits that previously were a barrier to gradual retirement. It calls for more focus on adaption to the aging society. Several publications are cited and it includes a reference list.

Description: Observations and commentary on the 2016‐2017 and recent flu seasons with relation to various mortality and morbidity measures available through the CDC.

Description: Demography is a very exciting subject. With a simple mathematical model, students can project a country's population forward 25, 59, 75 even 100 years. This paper will focus on six ideas from demography. They all can be useful to an actuary, yet none of them would be considered at any length if the actuary didn’t study demography.

Description: With a reference to Malthus, this paper notes that the main constraint on human population in the foreseeable future is cultivable land for food agriculture. The author proposes a solution involving the use of land that is currently desert, using desalination and solar power a plan which he demonstrates can be sustainable and profitable.

Description: This article presents recent perspectives on the understanding and measurement of pandemic risk.

Description: This article discusses the ratio of male birth to female birth, which is dropping. The experts cite older ages of parents, environmental pollution, fertility drugs, and other factors. This article discusses the observation that throughout nature, the ecosystem maintains a remarkable stability. Due to declining mortality rates for males relative to females, fewer males need to be born now to maintain equal numbers of males and females during the reproductive years. This may be a factor in the decline of the ratio of males born to females born.

Description: Comparison of healthcare costs for early retirees versus active workers in the same age band. When adjusted for age, there is not a significant difference in costs between each group.