An elementary approach to discrete models of dividend strategies

The paper studies a discrete counterpart of Gerber et al. (2006). The surplus of an insurance company (before dividends) is modeled as a time-homogeneous Markov chain with possible changes of size +1,0,−1,−2,−3,…. If a barrier strategy is applied for paying dividends, it is shown that the dividends-penalty identity holds. The identity expresses the expected present value of a penalty at ruin in terms of the expected discounted dividends until ruin and the expected present value of the penalty at ruin if no dividends are paid. For the problem of maximizing the difference between the expected discounted dividends until ruin and the expected present value of the penalty at ruin, barrier strategies play a prominent role. In some cases an optimal dividend barrier exists. The paper discusses in detail the special case where the distribution of the change in surplus does not depend on the current surplus (so that in the absence of dividends the surplus process has independent increments). A closed-form result for zero initial surplus is given, and it is shown how the relevant quantities can be calculated recursively. Finally, it is shown how optimal dividend strategies can be determined; typically, they are band strategies.     

Dividend problems in the dual model with diffusion and exponentially distributed observation time

Consider dividend problems in the dual model with diffusion and exponentially distributed observation time where dividends are paid according to a barrier strategy. Assume that dividends can only be paid with a certain probability at each point of time, that is, on each observation, if the surplus exceeds the barrier, the excess is paid as dividend. In this paper, integro-differential equations for the expected discounted sum of dividends paid until ruin and the Laplace transform of ruin time are derived. When the gains are exponentially distributed, explicit expressions for the ruin probability, the expected discounted sum of dividends paid until ruin, the Laplace transform of ruin time and the expectation of ruin time are also obtained.     

Dividends in finite time horizon

In this paper, we consider the classical risk model modified in two different ways by the inclusion of a dividend barrier. For Model I, we present numerical algorithms, which can be used to approximate or bound the expected discounted value of dividends up to a finite time horizon, t, or ruin if this occurs earlier. We extend this by requiring the shareholders to provide the initial capital and to pay the deficit at ruin each time it occurs so that the process then continues after ruin up to time t. For Model I, we assume the full premium income is paid as dividends whenever the surplus exceeds a set level. In our Model II, we assume dividends are paid at a rate less than the rate of premium income. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parisian ruin with a threshold dividend strategy under the dual Lévy risk model

We consider the threshold dividend strategy where a company’s surplus process is described by the dual Lévy risk model. Namely, the company chooses to pay dividends at a constant rate only when the surplus is above some nonnegative threshold. Classically, such a company is referred to be ruined immediately when the surplus level becomes negative. Recently, researchers investigate the Parisian ruin problem where the company is allowed to operate under negative surplus for a predetermined period known as the Parisian delay. With the help of the fluctuation identities of spectrally negative Lévy processes, we obtain an explicit expression of the expected discounted dividends until Parisian ruin in terms of the relevant scale functions and certain probabilities that need to be evaluated for each specific Lévy process. The optimal threshold level under such a threshold dividend strategy is deduced. Applications and numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results and examine how the expected discounted aggregate dividends and the optimal threshold level change in response to different Parisian delays.     

The expectation of aggregate discounted dividends for a Sparre Anderson risk process perturbed by diffusion

In this paper, we study the expectation of aggregate dividends until ruin for a Sparre Andersen risk process perturbed by diffusion under a threshold strategy, in which claim waiting times have a common generalized Erlang(n) distribution. For this strategy, we assume that if the surplus is above certain threshold level before ruin, dividends are continuously paid at a constant rate that does not exceed the premium rate, and if not, no dividends are paid. We obtain some integro-differential equations satisfied by the expected discounted dividends, and further its renewal equations. Finally, applying these results to the Erlang(2) risk model perturbed by diffusion, where claims have a common exponential distributions, we give some explicit expressions and numerical analysis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Markov decision problem in a risk model with interest rate and Markovian environment

We consider the compound binomial model in a Markovian environment presented by Cossette et al.(2004). We modify the model via assuming that the company receives interest on the surplus and a positive real-valued premium per unit time, and introducing a control strategy of periodic dividend payments. A Markov decision problem arises and the control objective is to maximize the cumulative expected discounted dividends paid to the shareholders until ruin minus a discounted penalty for ruin. We show that under the absence of a ceiling of dividend rates the optimal strategy is a conditional band strategy given the current state of the environment process. Under the presence of a ceiling for dividend rates, the character of the optimal control strategy is given. In addition, we offer an algorithm for the optimal strategy and the optimal value function.Numerical results are provided to illustrate the algorithm and the impact of the penalty.     

Differentiability of dividends function on jump-diffusion risk process with a barrier dividend strategy

We consider a dividends model with a stochastic jump perturbed by diffusion. First, we prove that the expected discounted dividends function is twice continuously differentiable under the condition that the claim distribution function has continuous density. Then we show that the expected discounted dividends function under a barrier strategy satisfies some integro-differential equation of defective renewal type, and the solution of which can be explicitly expressed as a convolution formula. Finally, we study the Laplace transform of ruin time on the modified surplus process.     

The Markov Additive Risk Process Under an Erlangized Dividend Barrier Strategy

In this paper, we consider a Markov additive insurance risk process under a randomized dividend strategy in the spirit of Albrecher et al. (2011). Decisions on whether to pay dividends are only made at a sequence of dividend decision time points whose intervals are Erlang(n) distributed. At a dividend decision time, if the surplus level is larger than a predetermined dividend barrier, then the excess is paid as a dividend as long as ruin has not occurred. In contrast to Albrecher et al. (2011), it is assumed that the event of ruin is monitored continuously (Avanzi et al. (2013) and Zhang (2014)), i.e. the surplus process is stopped immediately once it drops below zero. The quantities of our interest include the Gerber-Shiu expected discounted penalty function and the expected present value of dividends paid until ruin. Solutions are derived with the use of Markov renewal equations. Numerical examples are given, and the optimal dividend barrier is identified in some cases.     

On the expected discounted penalty function at ruin of a surplus process with interest

In this paper, we study the expected value of a discounted penalty function at ruin of the classical surplus process modified by the inclusion of interest on the surplus. The ‘penalty’ is simply a function of the surplus immediately prior to ruin and the deficit at ruin. An integral equation for the expected value is derived, while the exact solution is given when the initial surplus is zero. Dickson’s [Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 11 (1992) 191] formulae for the distribution of the surplus immediately prior to ruin in the classical surplus process are generalised to our modified surplus process.     

On the Gerber-Shiu Function and Optimal Dividend Strategy for a Thinning Risk Model

In this paper, the risk model under constant dividend barrier strategy is studied, in which the premium income follows a compound Poisson process and the arrival of the claims is a p-thinning process of the premium arrival process. The integral equations with boundary conditions for the expected discounted aggregate dividend payments and the expected discounted penalty function until ruin are derived. In addition, the explicit expressions for the Laplace transform of the ruin time and the expected aggregate discounted dividend payments until ruin are given when the individual stochastic premium amount and claim amount are exponentially distributed. Finally, the optimal barrier is presented under the condition of maximizing the expectation of the difference between discounted aggregate dividends until ruin and the deficit at ruin.     

On the time value of absolute ruin with tax

Consider a compound Poisson surplus process of an insurer with debit interest and tax payments. When the portfolio is in a profitable situation, the insurer may pay a certain proportion of the premium income as tax payments. When the portfolio is below zero, the insurer could borrow money at a debit interest rate to continue his/her business. Meanwhile, the insurer will repay the debts from his/her premium income. The negative surplus may return to a positive level except that the surplus is below a certain critical level. In the latter case, we say that absolute ruin occurs. In this paper, we discuss absolute ruin quantities by defining an expected discounted penalty function at absolute ruin. First, a system of integro-differential equations satisfied by the expected discounted penalty function is derived. Second, closed-form expressions for the expected discounted total sum of tax payments until absolute ruin and the Laplace-Stieltjes transform (LST) of the total duration of negative surplus are obtained. Third, for exponential individual claims, closed-form expressions for the absolute ruin probability, the LST of the time to absolute ruin, the distribution function of the deficit at absolute ruin and the expected accumulated discounted tax are given. Fourth, for general individual claim distributions, when the initial surplus goes to infinity, we show that the ratio of the absolute ruin probability with tax to that without tax goes to a positive constant which is greater than one. Finally, we investigate the asymptotic behavior of the absolute ruin probability of a modified risk model where the interest rate on a positive surplus is involved.     

On a dual model with a dividend threshold

In insurance mathematics, a compound Poisson model is often used to describe the aggregate claims of the surplus process. In this paper, we consider the dual of the compound Poisson model under a threshold dividend strategy. We derive a set of two integro-differential equations satisfied by the expected total discounted dividends until ruin and show how the equations can be solved by using only one of the two integro-differential equations. The cases where profits follow an exponential or a mixture of exponential distributions are then solved and the discussion for the case of a general profit distribution follows by the use of Laplace transforms. We illustrate how the optimal threshold level that maximizes the expected total discounted dividends until ruin can be obtained, and finally we generalize the results to the case where the surplus process is a more general skip-free downwards Lévy process.     

On two actuarial quantities for the compound Poisson risk model with tax and a threshold dividend strategy

In this paper, we consider a compound Poisson risk model with taxes paid according to a loss-carry-forward system and dividends paid under a threshold strategy. First, the closed-form expression of the probability function for the total number of taxation periods over the lifetime of the surplus process is derived. Second, analytical expression of the expected accumulated discounted dividends paid between two consecutive taxation periods is provided. In addition, explicit expressions are also given for the exponential individual claims.     

On the expected discounted penalty function for risk process with tax

In this paper we consider the generalized Cramér-Lundberg risk model including tax payments. We investigate how tax payments affect the behavior of a Cramér-Lundberg surplus process by defining an expected discounted penalty function at ruin. We derive an explicit expression for this function by solving a differential equation. Consequently, the explicit formulas for the discounted probability density function of the surplus immediately before ruin and the discounted joint probability density function of the surplus immediately before ruin and the deficit at ruin are obtained. We also give explicit expressions for the function for exponential claims.     

Dividend Maximization when Cash Reserves Follow a Jump-diffusion Process

This paper deals with the dividend optimization problem for an insurance company, whose surplus follows a jump-diffusion process. The objective of the company is to maximize the expected total discounted dividends paid out until the time of ruin. Under concavity assumption on the optimal value function, the paper states some general properties and, in particular, smoothness results on the optimal value function, whose analysis mainly relies on viscosity solutions of the associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman （HJB） equations. Based on these properties, the explicit expression of the optimal value function is obtained. And some numerical calculations are presented as the application of the results.     

Optimal choice of dividend barriers for a risk process with stochastic return on investments

We consider a risk process with stochastic return on investments and we are interested in expected present value of all dividends paid until ruin occurs when the company uses a simple barrier strategy, i.e. when it pays dividends whenever its surplus reaches a level b. It is shown that given the barrier b, this expected value can be found by solving a boundary value problem for an integro-differential equation. The solution is then found in two special cases; when return on investments is constant and the surplus generating process is compound Poisson with exponentially distributed claims, and also when both return on investments as well as the surplus generating process are Brownian motions with drift. Also in this latter case we are able to find the optimal barrier b^*, i.e. the barrier that gives the highest expected present value of dividends. Parallell with this we treat the problem of finding the Laplace transform of the distribution of the time to ruin when a barrier strategy is employed, noting that the probability of eventual ruin is 1 in this case. The paper ends with a short discussion of the same problems when a time dependent barrier is employed.     

Moments of discounted dividend payments in a risk model with randomized dividend-decision times

We consider a perturbed compound Poisson risk model with randomized dividend-decision times. Different from the classical barrier dividend strategy, the insurance company makes decision on whether or not paying off dividends at some discrete time points (called dividend-decision times). Assume that at each dividend-decision time, if the surplus is larger than a barrier b > 0; the excess value will be paid off as dividends. Under such a dividend strategy, we study how to compute the moments of the total discounted dividend payments paid off before ruin.     

Upper and lower bounds for dividends in the discrete model

A discrete model of the capital of an insurance company applying a barrier strategy is considered. Properties of the expected discounted dividends until ruin are studied. Assuming that the company can function after ruin and its shareholders cover the deficit and raise the capital up to some positive level, the total expected discounted profit is studied. Upper and lower bounds for dividends and profit are obtained.     

Dividend Problem with Parisian Delay for a Spectrally Negative Lévy Risk Process

In this paper, we consider dividend problem for an insurance company whose risk evolves as a spectrally negative Lévy process (in the absence of dividend payments) when a Parisian delay is applied. An objective function is given by the cumulative discounted dividends received until the moment of ruin, when a so-called barrier strategy is applied. Additionally, we consider two possibilities of a delay. In the first scenario, ruin happens when the surplus process stays below zero longer than a fixed amount of time. In the second case, there is a time lag between the decision of paying dividends and its implementation.     

The Risk Model with Interest,Liquid Reserves and a Constant Dividend Barrier

In this paper, we consider the compound Poisson surplus model with interest, liquid reserves and a constant dividend barrier. When the surplus of an insurer is below a fixed level, the surplus is kept as liquid reserves, which does not earn interest. When the surplus attains the level, the surplus will receive interest at a constant rate. When the surplus hits another fixed higher lever, the excess of the surplus over this higher level will be distributed to the shareholders as dividends. We derive a system of integro-differential equations for the Gerber-Shiu discounted penalty function and obtain the solutions to these integro-differential equations. In the case where the claim sizes are exponential distributed, we get the exact solutions of zero discounted Gerber-Shiu function. We also get the integro-differential equation for the expectation of the discounted dividends until ruin which is the key to discuss the optimal dividend barrier. And we give the exact solution in the special case with exponential claim sizes.