From the Paper
"In the summer of 1990, the federal government's budget deficit once again appears to be an uncontrollable beast, and, as usual, (1) the two major political parties attempt to blame one another for the problem, and (2) the Bush Administration and the Congress each attempts to cast the other in the role of villain. In the midst of the fight over the budget, a controversy has arisen over the retirement trust funds administered by the Social Security Administration. Somewhat inexplicably, the federal budget deficit and the retirement trust funds are, unfortunately, interrelated. It is this interrelationship which is examined in this research."

Abstract
The paper explains the concepts of markup, markdown, simple interest, Truth-in-Lending Law, rediscounted note, actuarial method, rule of 78s, sinking funds, bonds and annuities.

From the Paper
"Retailers purchase items to sell at a cost much lower than they charge the consumer to buy the items. For a dollar markup, the retailer uses this wholesale cost as a basis and then determines the amount to be added to the wholesale cost-the markup-to obtain the total price to be charged to the consumer. The retailer can instead opt to figure the markup on a percentage basis, by dividing the dollar markup by the cost of the merchandise."

Tags:markup, markdown, simple interest, Truth-in-Lending Law, rediscounted note, actuarial method, rule of 78s, sinking funds, bonds, annuities

Abstract
The paper discusses Malcolm Gladwell's assertions that the current American health care system is exacerbating the suffering of millions, that the moral hazard theory is erroneous and actually costing America money, and the "actuarial approach" favored by American policy-makers is lagging behind the "social insurance" approach adopted elsewhere. The paper is of the opinion that Gladwell's arguments against the present American health care system are lucid, compelling and relentlessly logical. The paper maintains that until America adopts the same sort of social insurance approach employed elsewhere, it will continue to find itself with an unhealthy population as well as a cumbersome and expensive medical system.

From the Paper
"The first of the three major claims advanced by Malcolm Gladwell is that the American health insurance system, because it demands people pay for their own health care, is not reducing inefficiencies in the system as much as it is exacerbating the suffering of millions of Americans. Indeed, many of these men and women owe money to collection agencies and many more of them are grappling with personal bankruptcy. More tragically, children who are born into poor homes are far more likely to not receive serious medical attention for serious maladies (such as infections) and those with lung cancer who happen to be poor can (usually) forget about chemotherapy just as those who have heart problems but are too poor for insurance can forget about angioplasty (Gladwell, sec.1). For all intents and purposes, the "system" is driving tens of millions of Americans towards an early grave or into insurmountable financial difficulty - and it is hard to see where Gladwell's argument is anything less than convincing."

Tags:actuarial, approach, social, insurance, inefficiencies, suffering, financial, drain

Abstract
The paper introduces criminal profiling as a pursuit involving actuarial and other studies of data and research over time towards patterns of helpfulness to police in difficult investigations. The paper provides examples from North America and the UK concerning our knowledge of sex offenders versus sex-killers and also addresses the sometimes small details that can aid in identification of persons who may not be known to the justice system. The paper offers a reflective conclusion.

From the Paper
"Matters of criminal profiling tend to have a certain glamour in public understanding due to various media influences. As McGrath comments "the popular image of the criminal profiler is that of a retired FBI agent who has written several books highlighting past profiling efforts" (2000:315). More accurately, one finds mundane persons involved in an applied social science rooted in forensic psychology and psychiatry, actuarial science, data harvested from criminal justice and mental health facilities, and information technology, towards plotted tendencies and patterns of use to..."

Tags:profiling, purposes, issues

Abstract
The paper looks at three major claims advanced by Malcolm Gladwell which call into question the traditional American conception of what health care insurance should be. Specifically, the paper looks at how the current system is exacerbating the suffering of millions, how the moral hazard theory is erroneous and actually costing America money, and how the "actuarial approach" favored by American policy-makers is lagging behind the "social insurance" approach adopted elsewhere. The paper concludes that the clear language and sharp logic of the article suggests Gladwell is writing for the typical "reasonable person" and not an academic audience; more than that, the piercing logic of Gladwell's article supports one undeniable thesis the author wants all Americans to apprehend: the U.S. health care system is broken and desperately needs fixing.

Tags:malcolm, gladwell, healthcare

Abstract
This paper explains that the question of whether or not the presence of "utmost good faith" in marine insurance is equitable to either the insurer or the insured is a question of global debate, because, although it is codified in very old law, the advent of containerized freight has brought the issue to the forefront in several nations. The author points out that the investigation done by an Australian expert provides a clearer picture of these problems of the nation's position concerning the Marine Insurance Act and strongly suggests that the entire Marine Insurance Act be removed from the realm of the English Common Law and placed under the control of the United Nations. The paper relates that the inevitable question of precisely who does suffer the most--the insured through their ignorance, negligence or outright fraud or the insurers and the re-insures for failing to use protective technology and instead simply make the premiums higher to cover their actuarial losses; however, the real cost is borne by the citizenry of the world as another hidden tax.

Table of Contents
Thesis Statement
The History and Background of the Law
The World Wide Effects upon Nations
The World View and Conclusions

From the Paper
"In his discourse concerning the Law of Marine Insurance - Utmost Good Faith at least in the sphere of Australian trade is having far too many losses therefore placing an unfair burden upon the insurers where perhaps the insured are quite possibly at fault. Again there are copious court cases cited in this section. It is this section of the law too that the Chancellor relates the United Nations efforts at curbing and enforcing the Utmost rules, but they have fallen miserably short of their goal."

Tags:containerized, australia, codified, insured, tax

Abstract
This paper examines prison violence and describes existing methods for assessing risk for violent behavior. It analyzes factors contributing to or reducing institutional violence. It also looks at factors contributing to violent behavior in general and discusses major theories of aggression and violent behavior. The paper then analyzes current methods for predicting short and long term risk of violence in various settings, in order to develop a conceptual framework for predicting inmate violence while incarcerated.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Strategies for Assessing Future Risk of Violence
Actuarial Risk Assessment
Clinical Risk Assessment
Psychopathy and Violence
Method
Violence among Inmates
Assaults In Correctional Facilities
Mental Health Screening In Correctional Facilities
Violence Prevention Programs

From the Paper
"A computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) system is a system that screens inmates for mental health issues in correctional facilities. This system was reviewed and tested to see if it is valid and useful. To begin this review, 100 adult male felons were administered a brief mental status interview and a series of psychological tests, including the MMPI, the revised Beta IQ Examination, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Psychiatric diagnoses and CBTI ratings of victimization, violence, suicide, and substance abuse potentials were compared with clinicians' evaluations. Second, CBTI diagnosed 109 inmates and were compared with Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) diagnoses. Finally, CBTI risk ratings were compared with institutional infraction records of 1, 718 inmates. An agreement between CBTI and clinicians' risk ratings decided that this was in fact a fair diagnosis, and the diagnoses ranged from 60% to 93%. (Psychological Assessment, 1992, p. 138)"

Tags:CBTI, prisoner, assault, offender

Abstract
This paper discusses auditor independence and disclosure and how they are strengthened by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). The paper discusses how, taken together, Sections 201 and 202 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in conjunction with Rule 101-3 of AICPA look to define the limits of independence of auditors. It also describes the purpose of the acts, as well as their exclusions.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Assuring Auditor Independence in Section 201
Evaluating Non-Audit Services In Section 201
Summary

From the Paper
"In defining Section 201 the SEC looked at factors that could potentially impede the independence of auditing firms. These factors were considered in the context of collusion, conflict of interest and the potential for influencing accounting of financial results to positively influence auditing results (Anandarajan, Kleinman, Palmon, 2008). The SEC considered all non-audit services and centered on nine specific service areas that are considered to be the most potentially damaging and limiting to auditor independence (Gramling, Karapanos, 2008)."

Tags:AICPA, valuation, actuarial