On a modification of the classical risk process

In this paper, we present the classical risk process with two-step premium function. This means that the gross risk premium rate changes if the insurer’s surplus reaches a certain threshold level. The formula for the infinite-time ruin probability is obtained. The asymptotic behaviour of the ruin probability in the case where the claim size distribution has a light tail is considered as well.     

On a perturbed Sparre Andersen risk model with multi-layer dividend strategy

In this paper, we consider a perturbed Sparre Andersen risk model, in which the inter-claim times are generalized Erlang(n) distributed. Under the multi-layer dividend strategy, piece-wise integro-differential equations for the discounted penalty functions are derived, and a recursive approach is applied to express the solutions. A numerical example to calculate the ruin probabilities is given to illustrate the solution procedure.     

On the expected discounted penalty functions for two classes of risk processes under a threshold dividend strategy

In this paper, the discounted penalty (Gerber-Shiu) functions for a risk model involving two independent classes of insurance risks under a threshold dividend strategy are developed. We also assume that the two claim number processes are independent Poisson and generalized Erlang (2) processes, respectively. When the surplus is above this threshold level, dividends are paid at a constant rate that does not exceed the premium rate. Two systems of integro-differential equations for discounted penalty functions are derived, based on whether the surplus is above this threshold level. Laplace transformations of the discounted penalty functions when the surplus is below the threshold level are obtained. And we also derive a system of renewal equations satisfied by the discounted penalty function with initial surplus above the threshold strategy via the Dickson-Hipp operator. Finally, analytical solutions of the two systems of integro-differential equations are presented.     

The Gerber-Shiu penalty functions for two classes of renewal risk processes

In this paper, we study the Gerber-Shiu functions for a risk model with two independent classes of risks. We suppose that both of the two claim number processes are renewal processes with phase-type inter-claim times. By re-composing and analyzing the Markov chains associated with two given phase-type distributions, we obtain systems of integro-differential equations for two types of Gerber-Shiu functions. Explicit expressions for the Laplace transforms of the two types of Gerber-Shiu functions are established, respectively. And explicit results for the Gerber-Shiu functions are derived when the initial surplus is zero and when the two claim amount distributions are both from the rational family. Finally, an example is considered to illustrate the applicability of our main results.     

On the Gerber-Shiu function and change of measure

We consider several models for the surplus of an insurance company mainly under some light-tail assumptions. We are interested in the expected discounted penalty at ruin. By a change of measure we remove the discounting, which simplifies the expression. This leads to (defective) renewal equations as they had been found by different methods in the literature. If we use the change of measure such that ruin becomes certain, the renewal equations simplify to ordinary renewal equations. This helps to discuss the asymptotics as the initial capital goes to infinity. For phase-type claim sizes, explicit formulae can be derived.     

A renewal jump-diffusion process with threshold dividend strategy

In this paper, we consider a jump-diffusion risk process with the threshold dividend strategy. Both the distributions of the inter-arrival times and the claims are assumed to be in the class of phase-type distributions. The expected discounted dividend function and the Laplace transform of the ruin time are discussed. Motivated by Asmussen [S. Asmussen, Stationary distributions for fluid flow models with or without Brownian noise, Stochastic Models 11 (1) (1995) 21–49], instead of studying the original process, we study the constructed fluid flow process and their closed-form formulas are obtained in terms of matrix expression. Finally, numerical results are provided to illustrate the computation.     

Asymptotic aspects of the Gerber-Shiu function in the renewal risk model using Wiener-Hopf factorization and convolution equivalence

We study the asymptotic behavior of the Gerber-Shiu expected discounted penalty function in the renewal risk model. Under the assumption that the claim-size distribution has a convolution-equivalent density function, which allows both heavy-tailed and light-tailed cases, we establish some asymptotic formulas for the Gerber-Shiu function with a fairly general penalty function. These formulas become completely transparent in the compound Poisson risk model or for certain choices of the penalty function in the renewal risk model. A by-product of this work is an extension of the Wiener-Hopf factorization to include the times of ascending and descending ladders in the continuous-time renewal risk model.     

Gerber-Shiu function of a discrete risk model with and without a constant dividend barrier

We consider the discrete risk model with exponential claim sizes. We derive the finite explicit elementary expression for the joint density function of three characteristics: the time of ruin, the surplus immediately before ruin, and the deficit at ruin. By using the explicit joint density function, we give a concise expression for the Gerber-Shiu function with no dividends. Finally, we obtain an integral equation for the Gerber-Shiu function under the barrier dividend strategy. The solution can be expressed as a combination of the Gerber-Shiu function without dividends and the solution of the corresponding homogeneous integral equation. This latter function is given clearly by means of the Gerber-Shiu function without dividends.     

The compound Poisson risk model with dependence under a multi-layer dividend strategy

In this paper, a compound Poisson risk model with time-dependent claims is studied under a multi-layer dividend strategy. A piecewise integro-differential equation for the Gerber-Shiu function is derived and solved. Asymptotic formulas of the ruin probability are obtained when the claim size distributions are heavy-tailed.     

Optimal dividends in the Brownian motion risk model with interest

In this paper, we consider a Brownian motion risk model, and in addition, the surplus earns investment income at a constant force of interest. The objective is to find a dividend policy so as to maximize the expected discounted value of dividend payments. It is well known that optimality is achieved by using a barrier strategy for unrestricted dividend rate. However, ultimate ruin of the company is certain if a barrier strategy is applied. In many circumstances this is not desirable. This consideration leads us to impose a restriction on the dividend stream. We assume that dividends are paid to the shareholders according to admissible strategies whose dividend rate is bounded by a constant. Under this additional constraint, we show that the optimal dividend strategy is formed by a threshold strategy.     

A Markov additive risk process in dimension 2 perturbed by a fractional Brownian motion

We consider the following theoretical reinsurance ruin problem. An insurance company has two types of independent claims, respectively modeled by a Markov additive process (large claims) and a fractional Brownian motion (small claims) with Hurst parameter H∈[1/2,1)$H\in [1/2,1)$, and chooses to reinsure both of them according to a quota share policy. This leads to studying a bivariate risk process. We study two types of ruins, corresponding to either ruin of one of the risk processes, or of both. We obtain asymptotics of the corresponding ruin probabilities when initial reserves tend to infinity along a direction.     

Mathematical investigation of the Gerber-Shiu function in the case of dependent inter-claim time and claim size

In this paper we investigate the well-known Gerber-Shiu expected discounted penalty function in the case of dependence between the inter-claim times and the claim amounts. We set up an integral equation for it and we prove the existence and uniqueness of its solution in the set of bounded functions. We show that if δ>0, the limit property of the solution is not a regularity condition, but the characteristic of the solution even in the case when the net profit condition is not fulfilled. It is the consequence of the choice of the penalty function for a given density function. We present an example when the Gerber-Shiu function is not bounded, consequently, it does not tend to zero. Using an operator technique we also prove exponential boundedness.     

On the threshold dividend strategy for a generalized jump-diffusion risk model

In this paper, we generalize the Cramér-Lundberg risk model perturbed by diffusion to incorporate jumps due to surplus fluctuation and to relax the positive loading condition. Assuming that the surplus process has exponential upward and arbitrary downward jumps, we analyze the expected discounted penalty (EDP) function of Gerber and Shiu (1998) under the threshold dividend strategy. An integral equation for the EDP function is derived using the Wiener-Hopf factorization. As a result, an explicit analytical expression is obtained for the EDP function by solving the integral equation. Finally, phase-type downward jumps are considered and a matrix representation of the EDP function is presented.     

Optimality of the threshold dividend strategy for the compound Poisson model

In this paper, we consider the optimal dividend problem for the compound Poisson risk model. We assume that dividends are paid to the shareholders according to an admissible strategy with dividend rate bounded by a constant. Our objective is to find a dividend policy so as to maximize the expected discounted value of dividends until ruin. We give sufficient conditions under which the optimal strategy is of threshold type.     

The hitting time for a Cox risk process

This paper investigates the hitting time of a Cox risk process. The relationship between the hitting time of the Cox risk process and the classical risk process is established and an explicit expression of the Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the hitting time is derived by the probability method. Similarly, we derive the explicit expression of the Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the last exit time. Further, we study the situation when the intensity process is an n$n$-state Markov process.     

Gerber–Shiu discounted penalty function in a Sparre Andersen model with multi-layer dividend strategy

This paper studies a Sparre Andersen model in which the inter-claim times are generalized Erlang(n) distributed. We assume that the premium rate is a step function depending on the current surplus level. A piecewise integro-differential equation for the Gerber–Shiu discounted penalty function is derived and solved. Finally, to illustrate the solution procedure, explicit expression for the Laplace transform of the time to ruin is given when the inter-claim times are generalized Erlang(2) distributed and the claim amounts are exponentially distributed.     

On the existence of smooth densities for jump processes

Summary We consider a Lévy processX _t and the solutionY _t of a stochastic differential equation driven byX _t; we suppose thatX _t has infinitely many small jumps, but its Lévy measure may be very singular (for instance it may have a countable support). We obtain sufficient conditions ensuring the existence of a smooth density forY _t: these conditions are similar to those of the classical Malliavin calculus for continuous diffusions. More generally, we study the smoothness of the law of variablesF defined on a Poisson probability space; the basic tool is a duality formula from which we estimate the characteristic function ofF.     

Analysis of the Gerber-Shiu function and dividend barrier problems for a risk process with two classes of claims

In this paper we consider a risk model with two independent classes of insurance risks. We assume that the two independent claim counting processes are, respectively, the Poisson and the generalized Erlang(2) process. We prove that the Gerber-Shiu function satisfies some defective renewal equations. Exact representations for the solutions of these equations are derived through an associated compound geometric distribution and an analytic expression for this quantity is given when the claim severities have rationally distributed Laplace transforms. Further, the same risk model is considered in the presence of a constant dividend barrier. A system of integro-differential equations with certain boundary conditions for the Gerber-Shiu function is derived and solved. Using systems of integro-differential equations for the moment-generating function as well as for the arbitrary moments of the discounted sum of the dividend payments until ruin, a matrix version of the dividends-penalty is derived. An extension to a risk model when the two independent claim counting processes are Poisson and generalized Erlang(ν), respectively, is considered, generalizing the aforementioned results.     

On the rate of convergence of simple and jump-adapted weak Euler schemes for Lévy driven SDEs

The paper studies the rate of convergence of a weak Euler approximation for solutions to possibly completely degenerate SDEs driven by Lévy processes, with Hölder-continuous coefficients. It investigates the dependence of the rate on the regularity of coefficients and driving processes and its robustness to the approximation of the increments of the driving process. A convergence rate is derived for some approximate jump-adapted Euler scheme as well.     

Biased random walk in a one-dimensional percolation model

We consider random walk with a nonzero bias to the right, on the infinite cluster in the following percolation model: take i.i.d. bond percolation with retention parameter p$p$ on the so-called infinite ladder, and condition on the event of having a bi-infinite path from −∞$-\infty$ to ∞$\infty$. The random walk is shown to be transient, and to have an asymptotic speed to the right which is strictly positive or zero depending on whether the bias is below or above a certain critical value which we compute explicitly.