Description: The author discusses the first life table, or life table model, which was produced in 1662 by John Graunt in his Natural and Political Observations. He notes that the brief, crude table was both inaccurate and unrealistic, but nonetheless, proved to be the source of one of the most powerful concepts and valuable tools in demography and actuarial science.

Description: This article gives a brief summary of an experience study on the frequency of simultaneous death claims among joint insureds.

Description: This article is a book review of “Medical Risks: Patterns of Mortality and Survival,” by Richard B. Singer, MD, and Louis Levenson, FSA. The author of this review notes “monumental is an adjective one hears in reference to this book and it certainly seems apt both in regard to the tremendous amount of work in its preparation and, more importantly, its value to those to whom it is directed. The book contains a mine of information in the form of mortality indices relating to a large number of risk factors, mainly specific diseases, abnormal physical findings, or abnormal findings on medical tests.”

Description: This article describes the activities and results of an SOA Task Force on Expansion of Mortality and Morbidity Statistics which was formed to review the mortality and morbidity research undertaken and the statistics published outside the recognized actuarial organizations.

Description: Historically, male mortality rates were below those of females. However, that trend has been reversed within the last 100 to 150 years, causing revolutionary changes in the role of women. This subject was examined in a paper on “Mortality Trends of Males and Females Over the Ages” by Barnet N. Berin, George J. Stolnitz and Aaron Tenenbein, presented at the Centennial meeting.

Description: A summary of the 1963-1965 study of the mortality experience under Canadian group term life insurance policies by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

Description: Recently completed experience and research studies from the SOA.

Description: This article reviews the various functions and current activities of the The Society's Committee on Mortality under Ordinary Insurances and Annuities and summarizes the latest mortality experience study.

Description: The last of three articles on the 1983 Table a. The first two articles described the steps in contructing the 1973 Experience Table and the 1983 Table a. This article compares the reserves from the 1983 Table a to the 1971 IAM Table at various ages and by gender.

Description: This is the second of three articles. The first April issue told how the 1973 Experience Table was constructed. Outlined here are two steps: i projecting the values in the 1973 Experience Table to produce the 1983 Basic Table, and ii reducing the 1983 Basic Table q's to arrive at the recommended annuity valuation table called the 1983 Table a.