Optimal financing and dividend policy with Markovian switching regimes

This work investigates an optimal financing and dividend problem for an insurer whose surplus process is modulated by an observable continuous-time and finite-state Markov chain. We assume that the insurer should never go bankrupt by issuing new equity. The goal of the insurer is to maximize the expected present value of the dividends payout minus the discounted cost of equity issuance. We obtain the optimal policies and explicit expressions for the value functions when the risk reserve process is modeled by both upward jump model and its diffusion approximation. Numerical illustrations of the sensitivities of the model parameters are provided.     

Elasticity function of a discrete random variable and its properties

Elasticity (or elasticity function) is a new concept that allows us to characterize the probability distribution of any random variable in the same way as characteristic functions and hazard and reverse hazard functions do. Initially defined for continuous variables, it was necessary to extend the definition of elasticity and study its properties in the case of discrete variables. A first attempt to define discrete elasticity is seen in Veres-Ferrer and Pavía (2014a). This paper develops this definition and makes a comparative study of its properties, relating them to the properties shown by discrete hazard and reverse hazard, as both defined in Chechile (2011). Similar to continuous elasticity, one of the most interesting properties of discrete elasticity focuses on the rate of change that this undergoes throughout its support. This paper centers on the study of the rate of change and develops a set of properties that allows us to carry out a detailed analysis. Finally, it addresses the calculation of the elasticity for the resulting variable obtained from discretizing a continuous random variable, distinguishing whether its domain is in real positives or negatives.     

Empirical Bayes estimation in continuous one-parameter exponential families under associated samples

In this paper, we study the empirical Bayes (EB) estimation in continuous one-parameter exponential families under negatively associated (NA) samples and positively associated (PA) samples. Under certain regularity conditions, it is shown that the convergence rates of proposed EB estimators under NA or PA samples are the same as those of EB estimators under independent observations, which significantly improve the existing results in EB estimation under associated samples.     

农村养老制度对家庭人力资本积累影响研究述评

自新增长理论形成以来，将养老保障制度与人力资本积累相联系进行研究成为社会保障、社会学等领域的研究热点之一。无论是国外的理论研究还是实证研究均表明，养老保障制度对于人力资本积累的影响作用是十分明显的。但我国目前理论界直接对养老保障制度与人力资本积累之间关系展开研究的尚属少数。因此，关于养老保障制度对家庭人力资本积累的影响研究的广度和深度均有待发掘。     

菲利普斯曲线在中国的有效性研究

从基本的菲利普斯曲线理论出发,提出了新的适应性预期模型,并以此为基础建立附加预期的菲利普斯曲线方程,进而估计出我国近年来的自然失业率水平,由此证明了菲利普斯曲线在我国的有效性,并描述了预期因素对实际通货膨胀水平的影响。最后结合实证分析结果提出解决我国通货膨胀和失业问题的建议,如保证货币政策的连贯性、加强信息披露、解决结构性失业问题等。     

初次收入分配对我国居民旅游消费影响研究

文章选取初次分配工资分配率、城镇居民基尼系数、各收入阶层旅游消费占比作为分析指标，经分析研究所得结论为：低、中收入阶层旅游消费占比与分配率负相关，分配率所代表的初次收入分配总量性影响对中收入阶层旅游消费影响较大，中、高收入阶层旅游消费占比都与城镇居民基尼系数正相关，其中城镇居民基尼系数代表的初次收入分配结构性影响对高收入阶层旅游消费影响较大；并针对各阶层的特殊性对各收入阶层旅游消费发展提出相应政策建议.     

Machine Learning Vasicek Model Calibration with Gaussian Processes

In this article, we calibrate the Vasicek interest rate model under the risk neutral measure by learning the model parameters using Gaussian processes for machine learning regression. The calibration is done by maximizing the likelihood of zero coupon bond log prices, using mean and covariance functions computed analytically, as well as likelihood derivatives with respect to the parameters. The maximization method used is the conjugate gradients. The only prices needed for calibration are zero coupon bond prices and the parameters are directly obtained in the arbitrage free risk neutral measure.     

Aggregating classifiers via Rademacher–Walsh polynomials

Methods are proposed to combine several individual classifiers in order to develop more accurate classification rules. The proposed algorithm uses Rademacher–Walsh polynomials to combine M (≥2) individual classifiers in a nonlinear way. The resulting classifier is optimal in the sense that its misclassification error rate is always less than, or equal to, that of each constituent classifier. A number of numerical examples (based on both real and simulated data) are also given. These examples demonstrate some new, and far-reaching, benefits of working with combined classifiers.     

Optimal control strategies for dividend payments and capital injections in compound Markov binomial risk model with penalties for deficits

We consider the compound Markov binomial risk model. The company controls the amount of dividends paid to the shareholders as well as the capital injections in order to maximize the cumulative expected discounted dividends minus the discounted capital injections and the discounted penalties for deficits prior to ruin. We show that the optimal value function is the unique solution of an HJB equation, and the optimal control strategy is a two-barriers strategy given the current state of the Markov chain. We obtain some properties of the optimal strategy and the optimal condition for ruining the company. We offer a high-efficiency algorithm for obtaining the optimal strategy and the optimal value function. In addition, we also discuss the optimal control problem under a restriction of bounded dividend rates. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the algorithm and the impact of the penalties.