Selected issues in modelling mortality by cause and in small populations

Document description

Actuarial practice as regards mortality analysis and projection is changing rapidly. This paper provides a short introduction to some of the limitations and risks in using trends in cause of death as a means for projecting future mortality rates. It also covers recent developments in analysing the mortality of smaller populations, including survival models and 'piggyback' models.

This paper illustrates some of the points raised in the workstream 'Mortality: drivers for change' during the inter-disciplinary conference, Joining forces on mortality and longevity, which took place in Edinburgh in October 2009.