Boys versus Girls

Today's (February 18) Chicago Tribune (page 25, first page of the Business section) has an article titled "Teen Risk Gap Shrinks" (link here). According to the article (which references a new Allstate Foundation report), the gap between teen boys and teen girls in terms of driver risk has been diminishing. Historically, teen boys have been much riskier drivers, and more costly to insure, than teen girls -- but that gap is now characterized as narrowing.

Although... The article keeps referring to teenage girls as "admitting to" speeding, texting, etc., more often than teenage boys. It will be interesting to see whether this survey-type data, which I would think depends upon the honesty of those surveyed, is ultimately borne out by future emerging loss data...

By the way... It still shocks me that anyone would even think about texting while driving. It perhaps shocks me even more that we often have to engage in societal arguments about whether or not it should be illegal...

- Rick

Using the Terminally Ill Against Insurers

In Tuesday's (February 16) Wall Street Journal, page A1, there is a very interesting article titled "Investors Recruit Terminally Ill To Outwit Insurers on Annuities." Well worth seeking out for actuaries and actuarial science students.

We certainly seem to be in an environment these days in which anything goes against the "big, bad" insurers...

- Rick