Scoping multi-disciplinary research into mortality Brian Ridsdale Chairman, Continuous Mortality Investigation

Why is the actuarial profession involved in research into m ortality? Clients include:  Life insurers – benefits paid out (ABI 2006)  Life and annuities - £45bn  Pensions - £95bn  Income protection etc£1bn  Occupational pension scheme liabilities (NAPF 2006)  Self Admin Defined Benefit£800bn  Other non-insured DC and PersPs£550bn  ONS  Banks, general insurers, others

Where is the actuarial profession involved in mortality research?  Continuous Mortality Investigation  Life office mortality and morbidity  Self Administered Pension Schemes  GAD and ONS on population  City and Heriot Watt  A variety of specialist actuaries  Working groups

Mortality developments: Three areas of interest  Understanding the past  Projection methodologies  Projecting future morbidity and mortality

Mortality developments: What’s missing?  Understanding impact of cause of death  Cohort effects developing  Old projection methodologies proving inadequate  Increasing uncertainty  Financial impacts of developments  Need for better understanding of risk  Need for better communications

Scoping multi-disciplinary research into mortality: Why?  We need a wider, multi-disciplinary perspective  We believe we have data, expertise and resources to contribute to other research  The economic and social implications make it a vital area for the future

Mortality and morbidity developments What to do?  Identify experts in other disciplines  Survey state of knowledge – across disciplines  Bring together users and researchers  Understand areas of common interest – and barriers to tackling them  Communicate the decisions  Start tackling the issues