Failure to take account of the mismatch between the assets in defined --benefit pension plans -- primarily equities -- and the liabilities -- deferred fixed annuities -- has long been a major unrecognized source of financial instability. The underfunding problems now facing state and local...

The objective of this paper is to explore two frequently ignored principles for the prudential management of financial systems at all levels of aggregation from a single individual to a national government. One of the ironies of the current global financial crisis is that the very innovations...

Guarantees of financial contracts, such as loans, deposit insurance, and swaps, pervade the financial system and play an important role in corporate and public finance. This paper develops a framework for analyzing the efficient management of such guarantees in both the private and public...

This paper proposes a new approach to improve the way central banks can analyze and manage the financial risks of a national economy. It is based on the modern theory and practice of contingent claims analysis (CCA), which is successfully used today at the level of individual banks by managers,...

As the world confronts unprecedented global aging, academics and policymakers are growing increasingly aware of the need for better risk management tools to handle the demographic transition. It is therefore imperative to identify innovative insurance and financial market products that can...

In the wake of the global pandemic known as COVID-19, retirees, along with those hoping to retire someday, have been shocked into a new awareness of the need for better risk management tools to handle longevity and aging. This paper offers an assessment of the status quo prior to the spread of...