Description: When an insurer classifies risks for the purpose of setting rates, one of the goals is to achieve equity. In general, however, inequities can be introduced when only certain factors are considered and others ignored. This paper, guided by ideas used by economists to measure income inequality, proposes a method of measuring this inequity. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1987, Vol. 39.

Description: The author, noting the inadequacy of traditional ‘rules of thumb’ used for profit objectives, demonstrates that, assuming a stock life insurance company’s objective is to maximize its current value, the profit objective can be expressed as maximizing ‘the present value of book profits per unit of limiting constraint.’ Includes discussion and author’s review of discussion. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1983 Volume 35.

Description: This is a discussion about how actuaries have become more and more involved in work outside what may be considered traditional actuarial functions. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1969, Vol. 21 Pt. 2, No. 59.

Description: Presentation of proposals that are designed to further improve actuarial education by anticipating educational needs based on future change in the nature of actuarial work. The paper is divided into three sections: I. Current and Past Education of Actuaries II. Actuaries as Customers for Education and III. The Future Educational Needs of Actuaries and How These Needs Might Be Implemented. Followed by several submitted discussion papers.

Description: This is the presidential address by former President of the Society of Actuaries, Malvin E. Davis. His topic was the current position of the American United States and Canadian life insurance actuary, the problems that face him and the Society of Actuaries, and what the Society should do to address those problems.

Description: Discusses the significant historical facts and trends in the development of Individual Health and Accident Insurance business, the types of benefits offered by various carriers, and in what ways the purposes, problems and practices of health and accident insurance relate to those of life insurance.

Description: This paper summarizes default experience on bonds from 1900 through 1987. Although the information is more extensive for publicly traded bonds, the paper includes some information on private placements, some of which is not otherwise available.

Description: This article is part of the Digest of Informal Discussion, which took place at the 1956 Society of Actuaries Eastern Spring Meeting, held April 19-20 in Hartford, CT. It identifies the participants and summarizes each person’s comments. The participants discuss various underwriting topics, including larger amounts of insurance and higher limits on premium waiver and accidental death benefits, larger non-medical limits, impairments, substandard underwriting classes, and aviation risks. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1956 Volume 8, Number 21.

Description: This discussion looks at ways non-government actuaries have served their government, the methods followed for recruitment of actuarial personnel for government service, recently developed mortality experiences and/or tables under government insurance, insurance department reviews of valuations, pensions plans and medical/hospital organization, and benefits for government actuaries.

Description: Presented at November 1952 Annual Meeting. Discusses some societal issues affecting the insurance business: war hazard, inflation, and taxation. Also discusses efforts to explain the profession and the prior year's activities within the profession.