Bayesian multivariate Poisson models for insurance ratemaking

When actuaries face the problem of pricing an insurance contract that contains different types of coverage, such as a motor insurance or a homeowner’s insurance policy, they usually assume that types of claim are independent. However, this assumption may not be realistic: several studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between types of claim. Here we introduce different multivariate Poisson regression models in order to relax the independence assumption, including zero-inflated models to account for excess of zeros and overdispersion. These models have been largely ignored to date, mainly because of their computational difficulties. Bayesian inference based on MCMC helps to resolve this problem (and also allows us to derive, for several quantities of interest, posterior summaries to account for uncertainty). Finally, these models are applied to an automobile insurance claims database with three different types of claim. We analyse the consequences for pure and loaded premiums when the independence assumption is relaxed by using different multivariate Poisson regression models together with their zero-inflated versions.     

On the robustness of longevity risk pricing

For longevity bond pricing, the most popular methods contain the risk-neutral method, the Wang transform and the Sharpe ratio rule. This paper studies robustness of these three methods and investigates connections and differences among them through theoretic analysis and numerical illustrations. We adopt the dynamic mortality models with jumps to capture the permanent effects caused by unexpected factors and allow the correlation between mortality and interest rate be nonzero. The analysis is based on four typical mortality models, including the mean-reverting models and the non mean-reverting ones. Our work may provide a guidance for participants on choice of pricing methods.     

On a multivariate Pareto distribution

A multivariate distribution possessing arbitrarily parameterized Pareto margins is formulated and studied. The distribution is believed to allow for an adequate modeling of dependent heavy tailed risks with a non-zero probability of simultaneous loss. Numerous links to certain existing probabilistic models, as well as seemingly useful characteristic results are proved. Expressions for, e.g., decumulative distribution functions, densities, (joint) moments and regressions are developed. An application to the classical pricing problem is considered, and some formulas are derived using the recently introduced economic weighted premium calculation principles.     

A comparison of regime-switching temperature modeling approaches for applications in weather derivatives

A comparison of regime-switching approaches to modeling the stochastic behavior of temperature with an aim to the valuation of temperature-based weather options is presented. Four models are developed. Three of these are two-state Markov regime-switching models and the other is a single-regime model. The regime-switching models are generated from a combination of different underlying processes for the stochastic component of temperature. In Model 1, one regime is governed by a mean-reverting process and the other by a Brownian motion. In Model 2, each regime is governed by a Brownian motion. In Model 3, each regime is governed by a mean-reverting process in which the mean and speed of the mean-reversion remain the same, but only the volatility switches between the states. Model 4 is a single-regime model, where the temperature dynamics are governed by a single mean-reverting process. All four models are utilized to determine the expected heating degree days (HDD) and cooling degree days (CDD), which play a crucial role in the valuation of weather options. A four-year temperature dataset from Toronto, Canada, is used for the analysis. Results demonstrate that Model 1 captures the temperature dynamics more accurately than the other three models. Model 1 is then used to price the monthly call options based on a range of strike HDD.     

A marked Cox model for the number of IBNR claims: Theory

Incurred but not reported (IBNR) loss reserving is an important issue for Property & Casualty (P&C) insurers. To calculate IBNR reserve, one needs to model claim arrivals and then predict IBNR claims. However, factors such as temporal dependence among claim arrivals and environmental variation are often not incorporated in many of the current loss reserving models, which may greatly affect the accuracy of IBNR predictions.In this paper, we propose to model the claim arrival process together with its reporting delays as a marked Cox process. Our model is versatile in modeling temporal dependence, allowing also for natural interpretations. This paper focuses mainly on the theoretical aspects of the proposed model. We show that the associated reported claim process and IBNR claim process are both marked Cox processes with easily convertible intensity functions and marking distributions. The proposed model can also account for fluctuations in the exposure. By an order statistics property, we show that the corresponding discretely observed process preserves all the information about the claim arrivals. Finally, we derive closed-form expressions for both the autocorrelation function (ACF) and the distributions of the numbers of reported claims and IBNR claims. Model estimation and its applications are considered in a subsequent paper, Badescu et al. (2015b).     

Support vector regression for warranty claim forecasting

Forecasting the number of warranty claims is vitally important for manufacturers/warranty providers in preparing fiscal plans. In existing literature, a number of techniques such as log-linear Poisson models, Kalman filter, time series models, and artificial neural network models have been developed. Nevertheless, one might find two weaknesses existing in these approaches: (1) they do not consider the fact that warranty claims reported in the recent months might be more important in forecasting future warranty claims than those reported in the earlier months, and (2) they are developed based on repair rates (i.e., the total number of claims divided by the total number of products in service), which can cause information loss through such an arithmetic-mean operation.To overcome the above two weaknesses, this paper introduces two different approaches to forecasting warranty claims: the first is a weighted support vector regression (SVR) model and the second is a weighted SVR-based time series model. These two approaches can be applied to two scenarios: when only claim rate data are available and when original claim data are available. Two case studies are conducted to validate the two modelling approaches. On the basis of model evaluation over six months ahead forecasting, the results show that the proposed models exhibit superior performance compared to that of multilayer perceptrons, radial basis function networks and ordinary support vector regression models.     

Error bounds in approximations of random sums using gamma-type operators

In this work we deal with approximations of compound distributions, that is, distribution functions of random sums. More specifically, we obtain a discrete compound distribution by replacing each summand in the initial random sum by a discrete random variable whose probability mass function is related to a well-known inversion formula for Laplace transforms [cf. Feller, W., 1971. An Introduction to Probability Theory and its Applications, vol. II, second edn. Wiley, New York]. Our aim is to show the advantages that this method has in the context of compound distributions. In particular we give accurate error bounds for the distance between the initial random sum and its approximation when the individual summands are mixtures of gamma distributions.     

数据挖掘——电信客户流失分析预测

从历史数据中挖掘有效信息从而运用到商业决策中已经成为统计的一个重要应用方向。本文主要是对电信行业客户流失情况进行数据挖掘,针对某运营商的历史数据资料,通过对已流失的客户和在网客户的自然属性和行为属性进行统计分析、挖掘,建立客户流失的预测模型,模型分析导致客户流失的主要因素,预测在网客户在一定时间内流失的可能性。本文中采用IBM的db2平台中的IM(Intelligent Miner)中的决策树和径向基函数进行建模和测试模型,再用IM Scoring进行预测。     

基于藤Copula的GAMLSS模型与非寿险准备金评估

在假设各个业务线的增量已决赔款服从伽玛分布、逆高斯分布和对数正态分布的基础上,建立了各个业务线增量已决赔款的GAMLSS模型,并将此模型应用于一组具有明显异方差的车险数据,拟合效果优于均值回归模型.另外,在多个业务线的准备金估计中,不同业务线之间的相依性通过藤Copula函数来描述.用D藤Copula描述相依关系的GAMLSS模型对准备金的评估结果既优于独立假设下的GAMLSS模型和链梯法对准备金的评估结果,同时还刻画了不同业务线之间的尾部相依性.     

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??Traditional claims reserve approaches are all based on aggregated data and usually produce inaccurate projections of the reserve because the aggregated data make a great loss of information contained in individual claims. Thus, the researcher in actuarial science developed the so-called individual claim models that are based on marked Poisson processes. However, due to the inappropriateness of Poisson distribution in modelling the claims distributions, the present paper propose marked Cox processes as reserve models. Compared with the aggregate claims models, the models proposed in the current paper take more sufficient use of information contained in data and can be expected to produce more accurate evaluations in claim loss reserving.     

A copula based Bayesian approach for paid–incurred claims models for non-life insurance reserving

Our article considers the class of recently developed stochastic models that combine claims payments and incurred losses information into a coherent reserving methodology. In particular, we develop a family of hierarchical Bayesian paid–incurred claims models, combining the claims reserving models of Hertig (1985) and Gogol (1993). In the process we extend the independent log-normal model of Merz and Wüthrich (2010) by incorporating different dependence structures using a Data-Augmented mixture Copula paid–incurred claims model.In this way the paper makes two main contributions: firstly we develop an extended class of model structures for the paid–incurred chain ladder models where we develop precisely the Bayesian formulation of such models; secondly we explain how to develop advanced Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithms to make inference under these copula dependence PIC models accurately and efficiently, making such models accessible to practitioners to explore their suitability in practice. In this regard the focus of the paper should be considered in two parts, firstly development of Bayesian PIC models for general dependence structures with specialised properties relating to conjugacy and consistency of tail dependence across the development years and accident years and between Payment and incurred loss data are developed. The second main contribution is the development of techniques that allow general audiences to efficiently work with such Bayesian models to make inference. The focus of the paper is not so much to illustrate that the PIC paper is a good class of models for a particular data set, the suitability of such PIC type models is discussed in Merz and Wüthrich (2010) and Happ and Wüthrich (2013). Instead we develop generalised model classes for the PIC family of Bayesian models and in addition provide advanced Monte Carlo methods for inference that practitioners may utilise with confidence in their efficiency and validity.     

Sarmanov family of multivariate distributions for bivariate dynamic claim counts model

To predict future claims, it is well-known that the most recent claims are more predictive than older ones. However, classic panel data models for claim counts, such as the multivariate negative binomial distribution, do not put any time weight on past claims. More complex models can be used to consider this property, but often need numerical procedures to estimate parameters. When we want to add a dependence between different claim count types, the task would be even more difficult to handle. In this paper, we propose a bivariate dynamic model for claim counts, where past claims experience of a given claim type is used to better predict the other type of claims. This new bivariate dynamic distribution for claim counts is based on random effects that come from the Sarmanov family of multivariate distributions. To obtain a proper dynamic distribution based on this kind of bivariate priors, an approximation of the posterior distribution of the random effects is proposed. The resulting model can be seen as an extension of the dynamic heterogeneity model described in Bolancé et al. (2007). We apply this model to two samples of data from a major Canadian insurance company, where we show that the proposed model is one of the best models to adjust the data. We also show that the proposed model allows more flexibility in computing predictive premiums because closed-form expressions can be easily derived for the predictive distribution, the moments and the predictive moments.     

A priori ratemaking using bivariate Poisson regression models

In automobile insurance, it is useful to achieve a priori ratemaking by resorting to generalized linear models, and here the Poisson regression model constitutes the most widely accepted basis. However, insurance companies distinguish between claims with or without bodily injuries, or claims with full or partial liability of the insured driver. This paper examines an a priori ratemaking procedure when including two different types of claim. When assuming independence between claim types, the premium can be obtained by summing the premiums for each type of guarantee and is dependent on the rating factors chosen. If the independence assumption is relaxed, then it is unclear as to how the tariff system might be affected. In order to answer this question, bivariate Poisson regression models, suitable for paired count data exhibiting correlation, are introduced. It is shown that the usual independence assumption is unrealistic here. These models are applied to an automobile insurance claims database containing 80,994 contracts belonging to a Spanish insurance company. Finally, the consequences for pure and loaded premiums when the independence assumption is relaxed by using a bivariate Poisson regression model are analysed.     

Mixed integer programming models for dispatching vehicles at a container terminal

This paper presents scheduling models for dispatching vehicles to accomplish a sequence of container jobs at the container terminal, in which the starting times as well as the order of vehicles for carrying out these jobs need to be determined. To deal with this scheduling problem, three mixed 0–1 integer programming models, Model I, Model II and Model III are provided. We present interesting techniques to reformulate the two mixed integer programming models, Model I and Model II, as pure 0–1 integer programming problems with simple constraint sets and present a lower bound for the optimal value of Model I. Model III is a complicated mixed integer programming model because it involves a set of non-smooth constraints, but it can be proved that its solutions may be obtained by the so-called greedy algorithm. We present numerical results showing that Model III is the best among these three models and the greedy algorithm is capable of solving large scale problems.     

Bayesian analysis of loss reserving using dynamic models with generalized beta distribution

A Bayesian approach is presented in order to model long tail loss reserving data using the generalized beta distribution of the second kind (GB2) with dynamic mean functions and mixture model representation. The proposed GB2 distribution provides a flexible probability density function, which nests various distributions with light and heavy tails, to facilitate accurate loss reserving in insurance applications. Extending the mean functions to include the state space and threshold models provides a dynamic approach to allow for irregular claims behaviors and legislative change which may occur during the claims settlement period. The mixture of GB2 distributions is proposed as a mean of modeling the unobserved heterogeneity which arises from the incidence of very large claims in the loss reserving data. It is shown through both simulation study and forecasting that model parameters are estimated with high accuracy.     

尖劈吸波体与导引仿真用微波暗室的性能研究

首先,针对尖劈形状吸波体的性能问题,给出了直接计算法和基于镜像模型的方法,并对其进行了对比计算与仿真.其次,对于微波暗室的性能研究,针对不同的复杂度要求,建立了两种数学模型—射线追踪(Ray Tracing)模型和基于Markov链的有限元(FEM,Finite Element Model)模型.建模过程和仿真结果表明,Ray Tracing模型的计算复杂度较低,但电磁波"镜面反射"的假设过于理想,模型较为粗糙,只能用于粗略模拟实际情况.而基于Markov链的FEM模型较Ray Tracing模型更加精确.同时,相比于传统的具有高计算复杂度的FEM模型,基于Markov链的FEM模型计算更加简便,利于计算机仿真实现,而且不降低FEM模型的精确度,可以精确模拟实际情况.     

On the analysis of time dependent claims in a class of birth process claim count models

An integral representation is derived for the sum of all claims over a finite interval when the claim value depends upon its incurral time. These time dependent claims, which generalize the usual compound model for aggregate claims, have insurance applications involving models for inflation and payment delays. The number of claims process is assumed to be a (possibly delayed) nonhomogeneous birth process, which includes the Poisson process, contagion models, and the mixed Poisson process, as special cases. Known simplified compound representations in these special cases are easily generalized to the conditional case, given the number of claims at the beginning of the interval. Applications to the case involving “two stages” are also considered.     

Morgan-Mercer-Flodin模型和Weibull模型的拟合

Morgan-Mercer-Flodin模型和 Weibull模型是两个著名的四参数 S形生长模型 .在一定的正则变换下 ,它们的隐函数方程及未线性化参数与拐点特征之间的联系都非常相似 .从而可用完全相同的方法对它们的未线性化参数初始值进行搜索 ,以拟合隐函数曲线的 GNL法对它们进行最小二乘拟合 .还用实例对这种算法进行了验证 .     

Robust-efficient credibility models with heavy-tailed claims: A mixed linear models perspective

In actuarial practice, regression models serve as a popular statistical tool for analyzing insurance data and tariff ratemaking. In this paper, we consider classical credibility models that can be embedded within the framework of mixed linear models. For inference about fixed effects and variance components, likelihood-based methods such as (restricted) maximum likelihood estimators are commonly pursued. However, it is well-known that these standard and fully efficient estimators are extremely sensitive to small deviations from hypothesized normality of random components as well as to the occurrence of outliers. To obtain better estimators for premium calculation and prediction of future claims, various robust methods have been successfully adapted to credibility theory in the actuarial literature. The objective of this work is to develop robust and efficient methods for credibility when heavy-tailed claims are approximately log-location-scale distributed. To accomplish that, we first show how to express additive credibility models such as Bühlmann-Straub and Hachemeister ones as mixed linear models with symmetric or asymmetric errors. Then, we adjust adaptively truncated likelihood methods and compute highly robust credibility estimates for the ordinary but heavy-tailed claims part. Finally, we treat the identified excess claims separately and find robust-efficient credibility premiums. Practical performance of this approach is examined-via simulations-under several contaminating scenarios. A widely studied real-data set from workers’ compensation insurance is used to illustrate functional capabilities of the new robust credibility estimators.     

Collective risk models with dependence

In actuarial science, collective risk models, in which the aggregate claim amount of a portfolio is defined in terms of random sums, play a crucial role. In these models, it is common to assume that the number of claims and their amounts are independent, even if this might not always be the case. We consider collective risk models with different dependence structures. Due to the importance of such risk models in an actuarial setting, we first investigate a collective risk model with dependence involving the family of multivariate mixed Erlang distributions. Other models based on mixtures involving bivariate and multivariate copulas in a more general setting are then presented. These different structures allow to link the number of claims to each claim amount, and to quantify the aggregate claim loss. Then, we use Archimedean and hierarchical Archimedean copulas in collective risk models, to model the dependence between the claim number random variable and the claim amount random variables involved in the random sum. Such dependence structures allow us to derive a computational methodology for the assessment of the aggregate claim amount. While being very flexible, this methodology is easy to implement, and can easily fit more complicated hierarchical structures.