The magazine of the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries

Arts

Book review: The money formulaThe Money Formula: Dodgy Finance, Pseudo-Science And How Mathematicians Took Over The Markets
The Stupidity Paradox: The Power and Pitfalls of Functional Stupidity at WorkAnna Lynskey on the pros and cons of functional stupidity
Dull disasters? How planning ahead will make a difference, by Daniel J Clarke and Stefan DerconI recall, and this will show my age, images of Indian and African famines from John Craven's Newsround, Do They Know It's Christmas and Freddie Mercury doing his stuff at the original Live Aid concert. It seemed in those days that one of the automatic, albeit delayed, consequences of famines was an outpouring of celebrity emotion which galvanised the public to part with their money.
Actuaries in microinsuranceAs my deadline for this review drew nearer, I asked myself why I'd volunteered to read a book in microinsurance. Is it because I'd recently been corresponding with Amos Kirigwi, editor of the Actuarial Students' Society of Kenya's magazine? Is it because I've recently set up an innovation team in the regulator where I work? Or is it because I have a social conscience?
Other People's Money by John KayWhat is it all for? John Kay's excellent book is purportedly an attempt to answer this question, where 'it' refers to banks' enormous balance sheets, the vast volumes of financial activity, the huge rewards on offer in finance and the activities of financial services in general.
Book review, MarchFigures of Death by PJ Sweeting
Book review, FebruaryMisbehaving: The making of behavioural economics
New book JanuaryFigures of Death
Book review Xmas, DecemberThe Actuary: From Russia, With Love Book 1
Book review, DecemberSuperforcasting: the art and science of prediction