Description: This paper discusses a class of asymmetric distributions arising in a random summation scheme. Members of the class are called asymmetric Laplace distributions as the standard Laplace distributions, which are symmetric, constitute a proper subclass. Among distributions which are limits in random summation schemes, asymmetric Laplace distributions play an analogous role to that of normal distributions among distributional limits of non-random sums. Asymmetric LaPlace laws are more 'peaky' and have heavier tails than normal laws. They have stability properties and are convenient in applications, as their densities have explicit forms and estimation procedures are easily implemented. Anticipating increasing interest in this class of distributions, the authors present statistical tools which can be utilized in practice, including algorithms for simulation and estimation. They also discuss more general classes of distributions, where asymmetric Laplace distributions appear as special cases.

Description: Random sum models with compound distributions are used extensively in modeling of insurance risks. Unfortunately, the compound distributions themselves are awkward to evaluate. Consequently, various numerical and analytical approximative techniques have been used. In this talk we derive various upper and lower bounds on the tails of compound distributions. Some notions in reliability theory are used.

Description: The goal of this paper was to establish the main results of assigning internal rates of retum to arbitrary financial projects in a more general setting than that found in the theory of Teichrow, Robichek, and Montalbano. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 1

Description: This paper develops a parametric model for health care insurance claims using currently available software to fit parametric models to the data. Model selection is based on the Chi-squared goodness-of-fit test and a comparison of the empirical limited expected value function to parametric limited expected value functions. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: This paper describes a theory of long-term interest-rate trends that was propounded in 1899 by an actuary, Charlton T. Lewis. The paper then presents a preliminary examination of how well that theory stands up in the light of 20th-century experience. The purpose is to invite more thorough evaluation by any experts who find the theory possibly useful.

Description: Discusses notation deficiencies.

Description: The concept of transformed distributions is generalized in this paper. First the concepts of net premium intensity, loaded premium intensity and load generators arc introduced. Then transformed distributions are identified with premium intensity and hence the loaded premium is calculated from transformed distributions. Finally it is shown that this method of premimn calculation is arbitrage free and it incorporates the strengths of the utility approach.

Description: Financial Accounting Standard Number 91 deals with the calculation of investment income and amortized cost for mortgage backed securities, as well as whole mortgages and callable bonds. The method described in this paper uses a Taylor series to eliminate the storage of all past cash flows, while still providing an accurate FAS 91 adjustment. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: In this paper, Lagrangian distributions are reviewed and some of their properties are studied. Recursive methods are proposed to calculate compound Lagrange distributions. Some examples for a sub-family of Lagrangian Distributions and its compound distributions are studied.

Description: A serious problem facing the actuary when his or her company converts to on line transactions processing is that of how to minimize human errors. This paper explains how the availability of the various reserve and cash value factor files in an on line environment permit better checking than has been possible in the past.