Long Dated Life Insurance and Pension Contracts
38 Pages Posted: 1 Jun 2011
Date Written: May 30, 2011
Abstract
We discuss the "life cycle model" by first introducing a credit market with only biometric risk, and then market risk is introduced via risky securities. This framework enables us to find optimal pension plans and life insurance contracts where the benefits are state dependent. We compare these solutions both to the ones of standard actuarial theory, and to policies offered in practice. Two related portfolio choice puzzles are discussed in the light of recent research, one is the horizon problem, the other is related to the aggregate market data of the last century, where theory and practice diverge. Finally we present some comments on longevity risk and cohort risk.
Keywords: The life cycle model, pension insurance, optimal life insurance, longevity risk, the horizon problem, equity premium puzzle
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