Description: This paper investigates the use of models of dependent mortality for determining annuity values. We discuss a broad class of parametric models using a bivariate survivorship function called a copula. Using data from a large insurance company to illustrate our methods, we calculate maximum likelihood estimates to calibrate the rnodel.

Description: This paper investigates salary functions as they are used in the valuation of pension plans. Pension actuaries may find many of the ideas in this article useful. Moreover, the paper may be interesting to researchers in actuarial science. The main conclusion of this paper is that salary functions, as derived from the parametric models, yield gains and losses that can be quite small and, in some cases, less variable than non-parametric methods. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1998, Vol. 1.

Description: The dependent relationship between two lives is readily analyzed within the context of probability theory. This paper presents useful relationships between certain actuarial and probability functions and then explores measures of dependence. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1986, Vol. 38.

Description: This paper describes how Markov chain Monte Carlo and related methods recently presented in the statistical literature can be used to quickly and efficiently simulate random draws from distributions with log-concave or nearly log-concave densities. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1995, Vol. 47.

Description: This paper presents well-known results in the theory of dependent competing risks that are fundamental in extending multiple-decrement theory towards a dependent-decrement theory. From the Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1994, Vol. 46.