In enhanced annuities, the annuity payment depends on one's state ofhealth at some contracted date while in "standard annuities", it does not.The focus of this paper is on an annuity market where "standard" and en-hanced annuities are oered simultaneously. When all insured know equallywell on...

Much of the industrialized world is undergoing a significantdemographic shift, placing strain on public pension systems. Policymakers are responding with pension system reforms that put more weight on privately managed retirement funds. One concern with these changes is the effect on individual...

Using 13F position valuations, we show that hedge fund advisors intentionallymismark their stock positions. We document manipulation even after eliminatingissues inherent in the pricing of illiquid securities. The documented mismarking isrelated to hedge fund incentives. Mismarking is more...

Newly introduced Government-subsidized pension products in Germany are requiredto contain a promise by the seller to provide a “money-back guarantee” atthe end of the term. The client is also given the right to stop paying premiums atany time (paid-up option). In this case, the amount of all...

Motivated by a recent demographic study establishing a link betweenmacroeconomic fluctuations and the mortality index kt in the Lee-Cartermodel, we assess the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on the solvencyof a life insurance company. Liabilities in our stochastic simulationframework are...

We compare the characteristics of conglomerates and private equity entities. This is done by examining the differences among their business models. We analyze the relations of the two entity types to their investors on the one hand and to their investments on the other hand. The distinguishing...

Private equity funds and hedge funds are both alternative asset classes that are continuouslygrowing in importance. Although they have different focuses, they share some characteristics.First of all, both have or allegedly have a significant impact on the economy as well as thefinancial system...

We conduct controlled experiments in order to analyze individual trading behavior. Our results suggest that investors measure their gains relative to their initial wealth, and that this reference point together with past stock price changes determine the portfolio choices. Subjects choose a...

Economists have forcefully argued for the introduction and use of property derivatives as a hedge against house price risk (e.g. Shiller and Weiss, 1999). The rationale for these financial instruments seems clear, as many households are heavily invested in housing and standard financial...