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Implied Rates of Return on Structured Settlements
In this article, Derek Aldridge and Christopher Bruce contrast our recommended discount rates with those used by one important set of sophisticated investors, the insurance companies who write structured settlements. They find that our recommended rates are greater than those being offered by these companies, suggesting that our rates may be too high. Continue reading
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The Discount Rate Simplified
In this article, which was written collaboratively by Christopher Bruce, Laura Weir, Kelly Rathje, and Derek Aldridge, we begin by setting out a number of criteria that we believe should be met when selecting the discount rate. We ultimately conclude that a portfolio of Government of Canada bonds of varying maturity dates meets our criteria.… Continue reading
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The Cost of Household Services, Alberta, 2010: A Survey
Perhaps the most important difference between this survey and the previous two is that whereas the 1999 and 2005 surveys were conducted primarily using telephone and newspapers, the 2010 survey relied almost exclusively on the internet – either Kijiji and Craigslist or agencies’ websites. We found that, with respect to most of the services that… Continue reading
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Factors that Influence Retirement
In this article, Derek Aldridge summarises recent research from Statistics Canada concerning factors that influence retirement. He finds support for an assumption that is often made in expert reports: that a plaintiff with substantial residual deficits will likely retire earlier than he or she would have in the absence of the accident. Continue reading
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Alternatives to the Minor Injury Regulation
In our first article, Alternatives to the Minor Injury Regulation, Chris Bruce identifies numerous alternative policies that could reduce automobile insurance premiums, not by reducing benefits, but by reducing the incidence and severity of automobile accidents. Continue reading
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Testifying in Singapore
In the second article, Derek Aldridge discusses his experience testifying in a personal injury matter in Singapore earlier this year. Continue reading
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Premiums, Profits, and Costs of Business in Alberta’s Automobile Insurance Industry, 1996-2006
In February 2008, Economica was retained by the Canadian Bar Association to prepare a series of reports on automobile insurance premiums in five provinces: Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. We have now completed this work, having prepared two reports on Alberta and one on each of the other four provinces.… Continue reading
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Examination of Expert Witnesses
This article is based on Chris Bruce and Derek Aldridge’s experience as panelists at a Legal Education Society of Alberta seminar on examination of expert witnesses. The article offers some recommendations regarding the examination of expert economists. Continue reading
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The Discount Rate Revisited (Spring 2008)
This article reports on our latest survey of discount rates. We conclude that no changes to our existing discount rate assumptions are warranted, though a reduction in our long-term rate may be necessary in the future if the observed long-term rates remain significantly lower than our assumed rate. Continue reading
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Mathematical Mistake: Averaging Multiple Statistical Sources Together to Form One “Overall” Average Income Figure
In this article Laura Weir discusses an error that can occur by averaging multiple sources of statistical data in an attempt to obtain an overall average that is superior in quality to the individual averages. Continue reading