Oct 10, 2008

Economics: Playing with fire

Read this splendid article by Robert Clarkson.


He discusses the dangerous misuse of modern finance models that sparked the current worldwide credit crisis.

Much of the responsibility for the severity of the present worldwide credit crisis can be attributed to the unthinking use of dangerously unsound financial models by American and European banks.

In July 2008 Clarkson gave a corresponding
presentation entitled “Actuarial insights into hedge fund management” at a conference on managing risk in hedge funds.

Some quotes:
  • ADAM SMITH
    The chance of loss is by most men undervalued.
  • WINSTON CHURCHILL
    The further you look back in history, the further you can look forward.
Enjoy!

Oct 8, 2008

Make the world a little better......


The next German (Bayer) advertorial for an actuary, just touches what a lot of Actuaries actually drives: Make the world a little better.

It's wonderful symbolized in two 'peaceful' Indian-like scars on the face.


Lars Achtruth, Datenanalyst bei Bayer, verfolgt täglich ein Ziel: Die Welt ein bisschen besser zu machen. Diese Leidenschaft ist es, die uns verbindet und uns die Suche nach dem Neuen niemals aufgeben lässt. Wir nennen es den Bayer-Spirit. Wenn auch Sie ihn spüren, ist es höchste Zeit, zu uns zu kommen.


Compliments Bayer!

Look it up if it's still actual: Versicherungsmathematiker (m/w)

Oct 3, 2008

World Drug Report 2008

The opium/heroin market continues to expand on the
production side. The total area under illicit opium poppy cultivation
increased by 17% in 2007 .

The opium/heroin market continues to be dominated
by the large levels of cultivation and production in
Afghanistan (82% of global production).

Worldwide there are around 16.5 million opiate users (some 12 million use heroin).



More statistics in the World Drug report 2008.