FINAL PROGRAM
2006 Western Risk and Insurance Association Meeting
January 2-5
Santa Barbara, California

MONDAY, JANUARY 2

4:00 - 5:00 P.M. Board of Director's Meeting
5:00 - 6:00 P.M. Registration
6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Reception

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3

8:00 - 9:15 A.M. Plenary Session: "RISKS AND RESOLUTION IN EMPLOYMENT LAW"

Moderator: David T. Russell (California State University, Northridge)

Featured Speaker: Todd A. Smith, Esq. (Law Offices of Todd A. Smith)

9:30 - 10:45 A.M. SESSION A : INSURANCE COMPANY PERFORMANCE
Moderator: Anne Kleffner (University of Calgary)

"Unified and Dynamic Monitoring of Product Performance and Solvency
of Insurance Companies"
Hong Mao (Shanghai Second Polytechnic University)
Krzysztof M. Ostaszewski (Illinois State University)

"The Relationship Between Corporate Governance and Corporate
Performance in Taiwan's Life Insurance Industry"
Tzy-yih Hsiao (Feng Chia University, Taiwan)
Liyin Huang (Feng Chia University, Taiwan)
Gene C. Lai (Washington State University)

"The Impact of Distribution Channel Strategy on Efficiency, Profitability,
Policy Persistency Rate and Agent Turnover Rate: Evidence from the
Life and Health Insurance Industry in Taiwan"
Mei Su Chen (Chao Yang University of Technology and Feng Chia
University, Taiwan)
Gene C. Lai (Washington State University)

11:00 - 12:15 P.M. SESSION B : PROPERTY/CASUALTY INSURANCE ISSUES
Moderator: Patty Born (California State University, Northridge)

"The Effects of Taxation on Canadian Property & Casualty Insurers and
Government Tax Revenue"
Li Zhang (University of Calgary)
Norma Nielson (University of Calgary)

"Finite Reinsurance Contracts"
Bruce Evans (University of Dallas)

"The Additional Insured Endorsement and Moral Hazard"
William Warfel (Indiana State University)

"An Examination of Structure and Pricing in the Title Insurance
Industry"
Randy Dumm (Florida State University)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

8:00 - 9:30 A.M. SESSION C: INSURANCE MARKETS AND COVERAGE
Moderator: Lee Colquitt (Auburn University)

"From Coffee to Commerce: The Story of Lloyd's"
Norma L. Nielson (University of Calgary)

"An Evaluation of the Possible Cyclical Nature of Operating Results in the U.S. Stock Property-Casualty Insurance Industry"
Peter M. Ellis (Utah State University)
Richard Cutler (Utah State University)

"Underwriting Cycles in the German Property-Liability Insurance
Industry"
Thomas Berry-Stölzle (University of Cologne)
Patricia Born, (California State University, Northridge)

"Environmental Insurance Coverage Disputes: Is State Legislation the
Solution?"
William Warfel (Indiana State University)

9:45 - 11:00 A.M. SESSION D: INSURANCE MATHEMATICS AND ECONOMICS I
Moderator: Gene Lai (Washington State University)

"The Merging of Random Variables and Fuzzy Variables"
Arnold Shapiro (Penn State University)

"Perceptions of Risky Activities"
Neil Fassina (University of Manitoba)
Ryan B. Lee (University of Calgary)

"Background Risk in a Simple Principal-Agent Model"
James A. Ligon (University of Alabama)
Paul D. Thistle (University of Nevada-Las Vegas)

11:15 - 12:15 P.M. SESSION E: INSURANCE PRICING
Moderator: Jerry Todd (St. Mary's University)

"Pricing in the Multi-Line Insurer with Dependent Gamma Distributed
Risks allowing for Frictional Costs of Capital"
Zinoviy Landsman (University of Haifa)
Michael Sherris (University of New South Wales)

"Competitive Insurance Price and Default Risk"
Wenan Fei (University of Alabama)
Harris Schlesinger (University of Alabama)

"Measuring Credit Risk and Pricing Equity-Linked Life Insurance
Contracts"
Hong Mao (Shanghai Second Polytechnic University)
Krzysztof M. Ostaszewski (Illinois State University)

12:30 - 1:30 P.M. WRIA Sponsored Luncheon

1:30 - 2:00 P.M. WRIA Annual Business Meeting

THURSSDAY, JANUARY 5

8:15 - 9:45 A.M. SESSION F : RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Moderator: Ryan Lee (University of Calgary)

"Emerging Technologies In The Delivery Of Risk Management and
Insurance Education"
Patrick F. Maroney (Florida State University)
Kathleen McCullough (Florida State University)

"An Analysis of Risk, Insurance, and Actuarial Research: Citations from
2001 to 2005"
L. Lee Colquitt (Auburn University)
William Ferguson (University of Louisiana, Lafayette)
David Sommer (University of Georgia)

"Implementation of Risk Management Rules"
Karl Ennsfellner (University of Applied Sciences, Krems)
Ilse Ennsfellner (Ennsfellner Consulting)

10:00 - 11:00 A.M. SESSION G: LIFE/HEALTH INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT PLANNING
Moderator: Norma L. Nielson (University of Calgary)

"The Impact of Disability Safety Net Policies on the Health of the
Injured"
Anne Kleffner (University of Calgary)

"Some Risks Associated with Reverse Mortgages"
William Jennings (California State University Northridge)
Penelope Jennings (California State University Northridge)

"Firm Size, Profitability and Growth in the U.S. Life Insurance Industry"
Raja Bouzouita (Central Missouri State University)
Arthur J. Young (Central Missouri State University)

11:15 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. SESSION H : INSURANCE MATHEMATICS AND ECONOMICS II
Moderator: David T. Russell (Cal. State University, Northridge)

"Rival Theories to Explain 12 Claim Rate Predictors Used by Automobile
Insurers"
Patrick Butler (National Organization for Women)

"Estimating the Demand for Automobile Insurance"
Piyawadee Khovidkunkit (Temple University)
Krupa Viswanathan (Temple University)
Mary Weiss (Temple University)

"The Effect of an Increase in the Probability of Loss When Risk is
Endogenous"
Henri Loubergé (University of Geneva)
Richard Watt (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)

WRIA 40th Annual Meeting Concludes