Abstract

Journal of Actuarial Practice

Volume 10, Numbers 1 and 2, 2002


Modeling Size-of-Loss Distributions for Exact Data in WinBUGS

David P.M. Scollnik

Abstract

This paper discusses how the statistical software WinBUGS can be used to implement a Bayesian analysis of several popular severity models applied to exact size-of-loss data. The particular models targeted are the gamma, inverse gamma, loggamma, lognormal, (two-parameter) Pareto, inverse (two-parameter) Pareto, Weibull, and inverse Weibull distributions. It is possible to implement additional size-of-loss models (including those for truncated data) using methods analogous to those described herein.

Key words and phrases: Bayesian, severity, Markov chain Monte Carlo, simulation.

Corresponding Author:

David P.M. Scollnik

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

University of Calgary

2500 University Drive N.W.

Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4

CANADA


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