Discussion of “Accruals,Cash Flows and Equity Values”

Review of Accounting Studies -     

“Utility Functions: From Risk Theory to Finance”, Hans U. Gerber and Gérard Pafum,July 1998

Abstract

In this paper we consider a compound Poisson risk model with a constant interest force. We investigate the joint distribution of the surplus immediately before and after ruin. By adapting the techniques in Sundt and Teugels (1995), we obtain integral equations satisfied by the joint distribution function and a Lundberg-type inequality. In the case of zero initial reserve and the case of exponential claim sizes, we obtain explicit expressions for the joint distribution function.     

“Skewness and Stock Option Prices”, Hans Gerber and Bruno Landry,July 1997

We determine the optimal amount of life insurance for a household of two wage earners. We consider the simple case of exponential utility, thereby removing wealth as a factor in buying life insurance, while retaining the relationship among life insurance, income, and the probability of dying and thus losing that income. For insurance purchased via a single premium or premium payable continuously, we explicitly determine the optimal death benefit. We show that if the premium is determined to target a specific probability of loss per policy, then the rates of consumption are identical under single premium or continuously payable premium. Thus, not only is equivalence of consumption achieved for the households under the two premium schemes, it is also obtained for the insurance company in the sense of equivalence of loss probabilities.     

“Bonus-Malus Systems: The European and Asian Approach to Merit-Rating”, Jean Lemaire,January 1998

Abstract

This paper presents an integration-by-parts proof of the Hattendorff theorem in the general fully continuous insurance model. The proof motivates a derivation of the theorem in the general fully discrete insurance model. Increments of a martingale over disjoint time intervals are uncorrelated random variables; the paper explains that the Hattendorff theorem can be viewed as an application of this result. A notable feature of the paper is the extensive use of the indicator function.     

Discussion of “The Effects of Taxes,Agency Costs and Information Asymmetry on Earnings Management: A Comparison of Public and Private Firms”

Review of Accounting Studies -