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Living with Mortality: Longevity Bonds and Other Mortality-Linked Securities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

D. Blake ,
A. J. G. Cairns  and
K. Dowd
D. Blake
Affiliation:
Pensions Institute, Cass Business School, 106 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8TZ, U.K. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7040 5143; Email: D.Blake@city.ac.uk
A. J. G. Cairns
Affiliation:
Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics, School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K. Tel:+44 (0) 131 451 3245; Email: A.Cairns@ma.hw.ac.uk
K. Dowd
Affiliation:
Centre for Risk and Insurance Studies, Nottingham University Business School, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham NG8 1BB, U.K. Tel:+44 (0) 115 846 6682; Email: Kevin.Dowd@nottingham.ac.uk
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Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of longevity risk — the risk of uncertain aggregate mortality — and discusses the ways in which life assurers, annuity providers and pension plans can manage their exposure to this risk. In particular, it focuses on how they can use mortality-linked securities and over-the-counter contracts — some existing and others still hypothetical — to manage their longevity risk exposures. It provides a detailed analysis of two such securities — the Swiss Re mortality bond issued in December 2003 and the EIB/BNP longevity bond announced in November 2004. It then looks at the universe of hypothetical mortality-linked securities — other forms of longevity bonds, swaps, futures and options — and investigates their potential uses. It also addresses implementation issues, and draws lessons from the experiences of other derivative contracts. Particular attention is paid to the issues involved with the construction and use of mortality indices, the management of the associated credit risks, and possible barriers to the development of markets for these securities. It suggests that these implementation difficulties are essentially teething problems that will be resolved over time, and so leave the way open to the development of flourishing markets in a brand new class of securities.

Keywords

Longevity RiskLongevity BondsMortality SwapsAnnuity FuturesMortality OptionsMortality SwaptionsSurvivor CapsMortality IndicesLiquidityBasis RiskCredit Risk
Type
Sessional meetings: papers and abstracts of discussions
Information
British Actuarial Journal , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , 01 March 2006 , pp. 153 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 2006

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