Business Commons^™

Stock Market And Macroeconomic Policies: New Evidence For The Pacific Basin Countries, Unro Lee

Eberhardt School of Business Faculty Articles

This article investigates whether the stock markets of the Pacific Basin countries of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan are informationally efficient with respect to macroeconomic policies. Granger causality tests are utilized in the context of a Vector Error Correction Model to test the relationship between aggregate stock prices and monetary and fiscal policies. The findings indicate that the stock markets of all four countries are not efficient with respect to both macroeconomic policies. These findings are different from those of other articles focusing on major industrialized countries. Rejection of market efficiency may be attributed to the unique structure …

Accounting For Biases In Black-Scholes, David Backus, Silverio Foresi, Kai Li, Liuren Wu

CRIF Working Paper series

Prices of currency options commonly deffer from the Black-Scholes formula along two dimensions: implied volatilities vary by strike price (volatility smiles) and maturity (implied volatility of at-the-money options increases, on average, with maturity). We account for both using Gram-Charlier expansions to approximate the conditional distribution of the logarithm of the price of the underlying security. In this setting, volatility is approximately a quadratic function of moneyness, a result we use to infer skewness and kurtosis from volatility smiles. Evidence suggests that both kurtosis in currency prices and biases in Black-Scholes option prices decline with maturity.

Ua3/9/2 Wku Institutional Review, James L. Fisher, Ltd.

WKU Archives Records

Institutional review conducted during Barbara Burch's interim presidency of WKU and presidential search.

Western Kentucky is a good university essentially trapped in time and therefore unable to change significantly. Until these constraints are eliminated or modified, the University will not be able to effectively address major issues of focus, enrollment, organization, personnel, curriculum, governance, athletics, planning and increased public and private support. Rather, it will continue to drift with occasional peripheral and cosmetic changes, none of which will be sufficient to successfully relate to Kentucky's new plan for post-secondary education.

The problems that prevent significant institutional transformation are several, but …

Breaking Trends And The Money-Output Correlation, David Fernandez

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This paper examines the impact on the money-output correlation of a univariate specification that allows time series to be characterized as stationary around a broken trend function. Though pretesting suggests that U.S. real output (industrial production) can be described as broken-trend stationary, this result has only limited impact on the money-output correlation. Before 1985 there is a strong Granger causal relationship between money and broken-detrended output (hut not first-differenced output), even when different short-term interest rates are used as regressors. However, after 1985 this relationship weakens significantly, whether or not one determines that output has a unit root.

Are Salaries In The National Hockey League Related To Nationality?, William (Bill) H. Williams, David A. Williams

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

The Coexistence Of Multiple Distribution Systems For Financial Services: The Case Of Property-Liability Insurance, Allen N. Berger, J. David Cummins, Mary A. Weiss

Faculty Publications

Property-liability insurance is distributed through a direct-writer system, where agents represent one insurer, and an independent- agency system, where agents represent several insurers. Independent-agency insurers have higher costs than direct writers. The market- imperfections hypothesis attributes the coexistence of the two types of insurers to impediments to competition, while the product-quality hypothesis holds that independent-agency insurers provide higher-quality services. We measure cost efficiency and profit efficiency for property-liability insurers and find strong support for the product-quality hypothesis, implying that independent-agency insurers produce higher-quality outputs and are compensated by higher revenues.

1997-1998 Operating Budget Request, Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

The Operating Budget Request for the fiscal year 1997-1998. Southern University and A & M College Campus.

1997-1998 Operating Budget (Final Printing), Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

The Southern University and A & M College Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year 1997-1998.

1997-1998 Operating Budget: Southern University Law Center, Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

The 1997-1998 Fiscal Year Operating Budget for the Southern University Law Center Campus.

1997-1998 Operating Budget, Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

The Southern University Shreveport-Bossier City, Operating Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1998. Southern University System.

1997-1998 Operating Budget, Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

The Southern University Board and System Administration Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year 1997-1998.

Auditor Judgment Confidence: Direct Evidence For The Process View, Marshall A. Geiger, A.C. Lloyd Spurrell

Accounting Faculty Publications

Although there has been considerable research on audit judgment processes and structures, one area that has received little attention is auditor judgment confidence. Determining the nature of confidence attainment has direct implications for audit practice, particularly regarding the timing of evidence evaluation leading to final judgments. The present study extends the early work of Pincus (1991) and is the first to provide direct evidence in support of the process view of audit judgment confidence.

An Empirical Study Of Economies Of Scope In Home Healthcare, Theresa I. Gonzales

WCBT Faculty Publications

Objective: To apply the economic theory of economies of scope to the home healthcare industry. Data Sources: Data on 488 observations obtained from the Cost Report (HCFA Form 1728-86) of all Connecticut state-licensed, Medicare-certified home health agencies. Study Design: The Cost Report was the primary source of data for this study. Information on total cost, scope, and other related factors was collected. Logarithmic and nonlinear regression analyses were used to identify factors related to scope and also to test for economies of scope. Data Collection Method: Data collected were both cross-sectional and time series (from 1988-1992). Data accuracy was verified …

1996-1997 Operating Budget: Southern University Law Center, Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

The 1996-1997 Operating Budget of the Southern University Law Center.

1996-1997 Operating Budget: Southern University At New Orleans, Southern University System. Office Of Finance & Administration.

All Southern University System Budgets

1996-1997 Operating Budget of the Southern University at New Orleans Campus.

Measuring External Shocks To The City Economy: An Index Of Export Prices And Terms Of Trade, Anthony Pennington-Cross

Finance Faculty Research and Publications

This paper details the construction of an index of export goods prices (the Export Price Index or EPI) for a panel of 196 metropolitan areas from 1977 to 1992. The EPI is an indicator of external demand shocks to the city economy which does not suffer from the causal ambiguity of the endogenous indicators such as income, employment or output. The creation of an index of aggregate export prices, the EPI, for the panel of areas provides both academicians and policy analysts with a new exogenous indicator that identifies demand price innovations and the terms of trade shocks …

A Variance Decomposition Analysis Of The Information In The Term Structure, Louis H. Ederington, Jeremy C. Goh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Based on a market efficiency assumption, we use variance decomposition analysis is to separate information in the term structure on expected future spot rates from information on time-varying term premia and to examine the market's ability to forecast both future rate changes and excess returns on long versus short securities. We find that fluctuations in the slope of the yield curve are due more to changing term premia than to fluctuations in expected future spot rates and that the market correctly predicts about 40 percent of the month-to-month changes in spot rates, a considerably higher percentage than that found by …

Raising Capital Overseas, John D. Gould, John P. Mcallister, Larry L. Orsini

Faculty and Research Publications

The article states that more and more companies are trying to raise capital by listing their securities for sale on foreign exchanges.More and more companies are trying to raise capital by listing their securities for sale on foreign exchanges. However, the way financial statements are prepared varies from one country to the next. U.S. companies looking to raise capital abroad must consider the myriad rules regarding financial statement presentation just as foreign companies listing stock in the United States must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Similarly, the costs of reconciling U.S. accounting standards …

1996-1997 Financial Summary, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Financial Summaries Archive

1996-1997 Financial Summary of Morehead State University.

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 5, No. 1, 1997, Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

ARTICLES

Providing Pensions for U.K. Employees with Varied Working Lives • Deborah R. Cooper

Seeking the Profitability-Risk-Competitiveness Frontier Using a Genetic Algorithm • Ronnie Tan

Fuzzy Underwriting: An Application of Fuzzy Logic to Medical Underwriting • Per-Johan Horgby, * Ralf Lohse, and Nicola-Alexander Sittaro

Accelerated Death Benefits, Viatical Settlements, and Viatical Loans: Options for the Terminally III • Paula Schmidt

The Right to Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With a Difference • Thomas A. Moultrie and R. Guy Thomast

Discussion of T.A. Moultrie and R.G. Thomas's ''The Right to Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With a Difference" • Charles L. Trowbridge

Editor …

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 5, No. 2, 1997, Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Articles:

With Different Term Structure Models • Eliseo Navarro and Juan M. Nave

A New Approach for Determining Claim Expense Reserves in Workers Compensation • Kay Rahardjo

Pricing Earthquake Exposure Using Modeling • Debra L. Werland and Joseph W. Pitts

Actuarial Model Assumptions for Australian Inflation, Equity Returns, and Interest Rates • Michael Sherris

Comments on Some Parametric Models for Mortality Tables • Kam C. Yuen

Editor - Colin Ramsay, University of Nebraska. Associate Editors: Robert Brown, University of Waterloo ○ Cecil Bykerk, Mutual of Omaha ○ Ruy Cardoso, Actuarial Frameworks ○ Samuel Cox, Georgia State …

Providing Pensions For U.K. Employees With Varied Working Lives, Deborah R. Cooper

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Several different working lives are investigated, including employees with breaks in employment, part-time employment, and temporary employment. The pensions that could be provided to the different employees by final salary, revalued career average, or money purchase pension schemes (plans) are calculated and compared. Some of the weaknesses in a final salary pension scheme (the treatment of deferred pensioners and cross subsidies between different groups of member) are considered. Possible alternative benefit structures are considered to address the problems.

The Right To Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With A Difference, Thomas A. Moultrie, Guy R. Thomas

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

For a long time underwriting has been a part of the actuarial canon. With increasing frequency, however, challenges are being issued against the right of insurance companies to underwrite applications for new bUSiness, arguing that certain aspects of the practice are undesirably discriminatory. We explore the role of the actuary in the underwriting process and the challenges that are being set for the profession (as opposed to the life insurance industry) as a result of this role. As the distinction between the interests of the actuarial profession and the interests of the life insurance companies has become increasingly blurred, we …

Dynamic Immunization And Transaction Costs With Different Term Structure Models, Eliseo Navarro, Juan M. Nave

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

A bond portfolio selection model is developed in a dynamic framework using different term structures, but without transactions costs. We show that the optimal portfolios are consistent with Khang's dynamic immunization theorem, i.e., the optimal path consists of making portfolio duration equal to the investor's horizon planning period. The model is then extended to include transaction costs. The resulting optimal portfolios are no longer consistent with Khang's dynamic immunization theorem. In fact, the strategy for constructing the optimal portfolio consists of initially choosing a portfolio with a duration that is smaller than the horizon planning period.

A New Approach For Determining Claim Expense Reserves In Workers Compensation, Kay Rahardjo

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

This paper describes a new approach for determining a reserve for claim expenses. While the discussion focuses on workers compensation claims, the methodology is equally applicable to other lines of business. The approach also can be applied to the calculation of the reserve for all claims (including IBNR claims) and the reserve for claims reported to date (excluding IBNR claims). In addition, a methodology for pricing claims-handling services is discussed. The implications of pricing claims-handling services on a handle-to- conclusion basis versus pricing claims-handling services on a limited time handling basis are examined. Finally, the paper discusses a methodology for …

Accelerated Death Benefits, Viatical Settlements, And Viatical Loans: Options For The Terminally Iii, Paula Schmidt

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

There are three options available for terminally ill insureds who are interested in accessing all or part of the face value of their life insurance policies: through the life insurance company (accelerated death benefits), through a viatical company (a via tical settlement), or through a via tical loan company (a via tical loan). This paper explores the definitions and tax regulations, calculations, and the claims process associated with accelerated death benefits and via tical settlements and loans.

Seeking The Profitability-Risk-Competitiveness Frontier Using A Genetic Algorithm, Ronnie Tan

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Monte Carlo simulation is used to develop a flexible framework to measure the profitability, risk, and competitiveness of any insurance product. A genetic algorithm is then used to seek the optimum asset allocations that form the profitability-risk-competitiveness frontier and to examine the profitability, risk, and competitiveness trade-off's. We also show how to select the appropriate asset allocation and crediting strategy in order to position the product at the DeSired location on the profitability-risk-competitiveness spectrum.

Discussion Of T.A. Moultrie And R.G. Thomas's ''The Right To Underwrite? An Actuarial Perspective With A Difference", Charles L. Trowbridge

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

This interesting but controversial paper studies a subject I too have seriously considered. Nearly a decade ago I was commissioned to prepare a monograph that appeared in 1989 under the auspices of the Actuarial Education and Research Fund under the title Fundamental Concepts of Actuarial Science. 1 Chapter VII of this work, "Classification, Selection, and Antiselection," claims that the cluster of ideas surrounding these three words form a fundamental actuarial concept. I have recently reviewed this monograph (hereinafter FCAS) and am struck by the dissimilarities between the two treatments. The authors of "The Right to Underwrite?" (RTU) were unaware of …

Comments On Some Parametric Models For Mortality Tables, Kam C. Yuen

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993-2006)

Parametric models for the entire age pattern of mortality have been suggested by Heligman and Pollard (1980) and Carriere (1992). The former is designed to fit the classical mortality pattern while the latter is supported by a statistical theory. Insights into their papers motivate us to consider a variation of the Heligman-Pollard model. We also apply these models to the 1993 Hong Kong Assured Lives Mortality Tables as well as the 1991 Hong Kong Female Life Table. This paper is not intended to construct a better parametric model for mortality tables; the main purpose is simply to provide insights into …

Tobin, James, Tony Caporale

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

James Tobin was born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1918. He received his bachelor's degree in 1939 and his master's degree in 1940, both from Harvard. Following naval service during the years 1942-6, he returned to his graduate studies and received his PhD from Harvard in 1947. In 1950, he joined the economics department at Yale University, and he has largely remained at Yale and has been identified with this institution throughout his career. He twice directed the Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, first from 1955 to 1961, and then from 1964 to 1965. He also served for two years, …