Description: According to the book 'The Limits to Growth' by Dennis L. Meadows et al., exponential population growth is the looming cause of five major trends of global concern- accelerating industrialization, increasing population pressure, rapid disappearance of unused arable land, depletion of non-renewable resources, and a deteriorating environment. Can disaster be avoided? The author of this article suggests that since actuaries are self-styled futurists, using our mathematical skills to define, analyze, and solve complex business and social problems, we should not be left behind on this one.

Description: This 1978 session focused on Group Life Insurance. Questions discussed included: 1. How does current group mortality compare with the 1960 Basic Group Mortality Table? 2. What is the relationship of female to male mortality rates? 3. How do the premium rates of insurance companies compare with the 1960 Basic Group Mortality Table? 4. What group and industry experience indicate the appropriateness of premium discounts and loadings? 5. To what degree are alternative funding approaches utilized for group life insurance? 6. How many life years of exposure are necessary for credibility to be given to the experience of a group? 7. What measures are utilized to hold experience fund deficits to a manageable level for group life? 8. What is the proper reserve for pending or unknown death claims? 9. What is the proper reserve for pending or unknown disability waiver of premium claims? 10. What is the proper reserve for approved waiver of premium claims?

Description: Article from The Actuary, February 1986 – Volume No. 20, Issue No. 2 that provides an update from the Futurism Section.

Description: This session from the 1984 SOA New York City Meeting discusses the investment implications of an aging population including the affect on the national savings rate, economic growth, the dependence on social security and opportunities for the insurance industry. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 10, No. 3

Description: From the April 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Houston. Discussion of how the insurance industries in several countries have dealt with high levels of inflation with respect to the development and marketing of insurance products. Also discussed: I. the overall business and economic environment 2. the taxation structure of insurance companies 3. the availability of suitable investments 4. the insurance regulatory climate and 5. the structure of worldwide capital markets Possible applications to U.S. insurance in the 1980's were explored.

Description: The following topics were discussed at concurrent sessions: 1. Independence of the actuary, 2. Problems posed by United States pension legislation, 3. Registered equity products, including variable life insurance, variable annuities, and mutual funds, 4. Limits to growth, and 5. Maintenance of high standards in a profession. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1974 Vol. 26, Pt. 2D, No. 76.

Description: This article contains reviews of the following books: 1. 'Fundamental Mathematics of Life Insurance' by Floyd S. Harper and Lewis C. Workman, 2. 'Mathematics of Compound Interest' by Marjorie V. Butcher and Cecil J. Nesbitt, 3.'Compound Interest and Annuities-Certain' by D. W. A. Donald, 4. 'Demography' by P. R. Cox, 5. 'The Spirit and the Uses of the Mathematical Sciences' edited by Thomas L. Saaty and F. Joachim Weyl, 6. 'Ethics, Morality, and Insurance' by John D. Long, 7. Reports of the 1971 Advisory Council on Social Security, 8. 'Medical Care at Public Expense' by Mark V. Pauly 9. 'Eleventh Actuarial Valuation of the Assets and Liabilities under the Railroad Retirement Acts as of December 31, 1968, with Technical Supplement' by the Railroad Retirement Board, 10. 'Nouvelles tables-types de mortalité' by Sully Ledermann, 11. 'A Table of Expected Working Life for Men, 1968' by Howard W. Fullerton, 12. 'Disability-Determination and Evaluation' by Henry H. Kessler, 13. 'Industrial Safety Statistics: A Re-examination' by Jerome B. Gordon, Allan Akman, and Michael L. Brooks, 14. 'Pensions and Severance Pay for Displaced Defense Workers' by Hugh Folk and PauI Hartman, 15. 'Trends and Variations in Fertility in the United States' by Clyde V. Kiser, Wilson H. Grabill, and Arthur A. Campbell, 16. 'Benefit Plans in Junior Colleges' by Francis P. King, 17. 'The Consumer's Guide to Insurance Buying' by Vladimir P. Chernik, and 18. 'Private Pension Scheme Finance' by Sylvia and Leslie Tutt. Notices of other studies and articles are also included. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1971, Vol. 23, Pt. 1, No. 67.

Description: While actuarial tradition has it that the preferred way to finance private pension plans is by full funding, the author discusses that this principle cannot necessarily be extended to national Old Age Security plans if the population remains stationary.

Description: Presented at June 1985 Spring Meeting. Futures research is a demonstrated scientific approach to understanding what the future environment will be. Presentation discusses what it is, where did it start, who uses it and why, does it work, who benefits, what are some simple futures research techniques, how to make it work, what are today's key trends for tomorrow's insurance industry, and how to start a simple futures research program.

Description: Presented at October 1985 Annual Meeting. This session discussion is about 1985 achievements, newsletter comments and future directions.