I was interested to learn from Alex Waites July article (bit.ly/AnimalSpiritsAW) there is an Economic Modelling Group aiming at improving forecasting of economic outcomes. I wish this the best of luck, but would not be surprised if the results prove inconclusive.
Honorary fellows are eminent individuals in business, academia and government.
I saw with interest that no females were nominated for honorary fellow this year. The IFoA now has 119 honorary fellows dating back to 1977, of which 10 (8%) are female.
Honorary fellows are eminent individuals in business, academia and government.
The statistics of voting are now topical, so the time is ripe to comment on the remarks journalists have been making. Shortly after the UK election exit poll, a former Lib Dem MP, Ming Campbell, commented to this effect: One thing is certain, Theresa May will not get the huge landslide result she sought.
Recently, and what seems to have been more frequently than in any other decade, we have taken ourselves to the ballot box at a national and local level, exercising our right to make our voices heard. Certainly in the last few years, we have seen the unexpected (or expected in some cases) occur based on the will of the people. In some of the more notable and historically altering elections, the outcome may have been decided by a disillusioned electorate tired of what they are presented with.
It is a time of change. This brings about challenges, opportunities and risks, and I am honoured to be taking on the leadership of the IFoA at such a time. I believe that the skills and value actuaries can bring are more relevant and needed than ever before.
The slowing pace of mortality improvements observed recently for the UK general population has generated much discussion in the actuarial and political community, and even made the national headlines. Its a trend seen elsewhere in the world too, and so in this issue we put the spotlight on these changes.
