Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Dynamic mean-variance and optimal reinsurance problems under the no-bankruptcy constraint for an insurer

  • Published:
Annals of Operations Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the optimal investment and optimal reinsurance problems for an insurer under the criterion of mean-variance with bankruptcy prohibition, i.e., the wealth process of the insurer is not allowed to be below zero at any time. The risk process is a diffusion model and the insurer can invest in a risk-free asset and multiple risky assets. In view of the standard martingale approach in tackling continuous-time portfolio choice models, we consider two subproblems. After solving the two subproblems respectively, we can obtain the solution to the mean-variance optimal problem. We also consider the optimal problem when bankruptcy is allowed. In this situation, we obtain the efficient strategy and efficient frontier using the stochastic linear-quadratic control theory. Then we compare the results in the two cases and give a numerical example to illustrate our results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Bai, L., & Zhang, H. (2008). Dynamic mean-variance problem with constrained risk control for the insurers. Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, 68, 181–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bäuerle, N. (2005). Benchmark and mean-variance problems for insurers. Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, 62, 159–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki, T. R., Jin, H., Pliska, S. R., & Zhou, X. Y. (2005). Continuous-time mean-variance portfolio selection with bankruptcy prohibition. Mathematical Finance, 15, 213–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne, S. (1995). Optimal investment policies for a firm with a random risk process: exponential utility and minimizing the probability of ruin. Mathematics of Operations Research, 20, 937–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delong, L., & Gerrard, R. (2007). Mean-variance portfolio selection for a non-life insurance company. Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, 66, 339–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Karoui, N., Peng, S., & Quenez, M. C. (1997). Backward stochastic differential equations in finance. Mathematical Finance, 7, 1–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, W. H., & Soner, H. M. (1993). Controlled Markov processes and viscosity solutions. Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaier, J., Grandits, P., & Schachermayer, W. (2003). Asymptotic ruin probabilities and optimal investment. The Annals of Applied Probability, 13, 1054–1076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grandell, J. (1991). Aspects of risk theory. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hipp, C., & Plum, M. (2000). Optimal investment for insurers. Insurance. Mathematics & Economics, 27, 215–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luenberger, D. G. (1968). Optimization by vector space methods. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio selection. The Journal of Finance, 7, 77–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merton, R. C. (1972). An analytical derivation of the efficient portfolio frontier. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 7, 1851–1872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardoux, E., & Peng, S. (1990). Adapted solution of a backward stochastic differential equation. Systems & Control Letters, 14, 55–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pliska, S. R. (1982). A discrete time stochastic decision model. In W. H. Fleming & L. G. Gorostiza (Eds.), Lecture notes in control and information sciences: Vol. 42. Advances in filtering and optimal stochastic control (pp. 290–302). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pliska, S. R. (1986). A stochastic calculus model of continuous trading: optimal portfolios. Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, 11, 371–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidli, H. (2002). On minimizing the ruin probability by investment and reinsurance. The Annals of Applied Probability, 12, 890–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Xia, J., & Zhang, L. (2007). Optimal investment for an insurer: the martingale approach. Insurance. Mathematics & Economics, 40, 322–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, X. Y., & Li, D. (2000). Continuous time mean-variance portfolio selection: a stochastic LQ framework. Applied Mathematics & Optimization, 42, 19–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledged the support of Social Science Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (10YJC790196) and Chinese National Natural Science Fund (Nos. 70772006, 71102110, 71172171, 71140006).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingbin Meng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bi, J., Meng, Q. & Zhang, Y. Dynamic mean-variance and optimal reinsurance problems under the no-bankruptcy constraint for an insurer. Ann Oper Res 212, 43–59 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-013-1338-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-013-1338-z

Keywords