Description: In this paper two theorems concerning the optimality of the perfect-fit and perfect-smoothness graduations are proved. Two examples are presented and some difficulties with regard to computational feasibility are reviewed. A discussion of the paper follows. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1978, Vol. 30.

Description: This section presents book reviews and summarizes recent publications on subjects that include U.K. social insurance, financing of hospital care, state examinations of life companies, approximate valuation of life and health insurance, mortality forecasting, and valuing estate tax.

Description: Discussion of the proportion of the increase in life expectancy at a given age that can be attributed to the change in mortality rates at and over some higher age and methods as to how this proportion can be measured. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: This section contains book reviews and summaries of recently published works on subjects including demography, savings in the U.S., life company state examinations, private pensions, Industrial insurance, medical care, and union welfare plans.

Description: In an increasing population the number of persons falls off from age to age more rapidly than does the stationary population of the life table. This can introduce a systematic bias into life table calculations. The first part of the paper describes an iterative procedure to correct for the bias, extends the method to multiple decrement and associated single decrement life tables, and demonstrates the magnitude of the bias involved. The second part of the paper summarizes the results of applying iterative life table techniques to 165 populations which encompass over a century's experience and include countries from all parts of the world. Followed by discussions submitted by several people

Description: This is a discussion of the paper, The Mortality of Industrial Policyholders 1950 to 1955 by Edward A. Lew and Mortimer Spiegelman. From Transactions of Society of Actauries 1957, Vol. 9, No. 24.

Description: Development of a formula for the continuous annuity ax:n| in terms of the Makeham parameters A, B, and c, and the force of interest. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: This is a discussion of the paper, Mortality Experience of Union Civil War Veterans by Robert J. Myers and Louis O. Shudde. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1955, Vol. 7, No. 19.

Description: The primary objective of the paper was to develop a straightforward method for constructing an interpolation formula of finite range with desired properties stipulated in advance. This paper had in view mainly the application to polynomial interpolation as used in actuarial work. Followed by 2 discussion papers submitted

Description: In estimating mortality rates from the experience of a life insurance company or employee-benefit plan, it is expedient, because of the movement into and out of the covered group on dates other than birthdays or policy anniversaries, to make some assumption about mortality over a fractional part of a year of age. This paper describes and develops the concept of 'exposure' with regard to the more commonly known methods of estimating the rate of mortality, and proposes a fourth methodology. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1978, Vol.2.