Description: This article discusses female and male mortality rates, the lower mortality rate of females and the ramifications of the increasing female population in terms of equitable treatment and their roles in the workforce.

Description: Book review of a book on pensions written by Ralph Nader and Kate Blackwell. Review is relatively balanced, yet clearly points out the shortfalls of the analysis put together by Mr. Nader and Ms. Blackwell.

Description: Full version of The Actuary, December 1995, Volume 29, No.10.

Description: This is the author's address at the SOA annual meeting on October 18, 1994 as the incoming President. He talks about areas of discussion regarding the SOA's future.

Description: In this article, the authors describe the flaws in our current determination of the Consumer Price Index CPI and other economic indicators, and propose a series of refinements for improving the CPI calculations. The article emphasizes the importance of accuracy, given the significant influence on business and investment policies, psychological effect on the marketplace, as well as on consumer confidence, and the direct impact on Social Security increases and other benefit plans.

Description: The Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87. Employers’ Accounting for Pensions, became effective in 1987. This is an accounting/actuarial standard with significant income statement and balance sheet implications. This article discuses the results of a survey of selected affected companies regarding the impact of this standard.

Description: This is the Presidential Address at the SOA annual meeting of October 1995. He highlights initiatives undertaken over the past two years to move the SOA from an inward-looking to an outward-looking organization.

Description: This article is about the need for changes in employee benefits and retirement. According to the author we have lost sight of the original goal: the encouragement of privately sponsored employee benefit programs so that workers and their families can live in dignity in retirement.

Description: Presents concerns regarding assumptions for inflation.

Description: If the United States is to have a successful Social Security and Medicare system long term, one that blends needs with financial capacity, it is necessary to protect the actuarial process from being overwhelmed by the political process. While some assistance is provided already under existing law, additional protection would enhance public confidence in the estimates made by government actuaries.