Login
Student authentication

Is it the first time you are entering this system?
Use the following link to activate your id and create your password.
»  Create / Recover Password

Syllabus

EN IT

Learning Objectives

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The course aims to provide the main mathematical techniques used in the modeling and analysis of credit risk and risks associated with life insurance markets.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The course will enable students to develop both deterministic and stochastic mathematical methods for modeling financial markets exposed to credit risk and actuarial markets. Key tools for the evaluation of financial contracts subject to default risk and life insurance contracts—both traditional and modern—will be studied.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
By the end of the course, students will be able to mathematically describe the models commonly used for managing and evaluating contracts subject to credit risk and life insurance contracts, highlighting their characteristics, advantages, and limitations. They will also be able to apply appropriate quantitative techniques for their assessment.

INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT
Thanks to the course structure, which emphasizes the theoretical and critical analysis of mathematical results and their financial implications, students will develop the ability to build logical arguments, clearly identifying assumptions and conclusions, and to recognize flawed or incomplete reasoning. The analysis of real-world examples in the financial and actuarial fields will help them identify the essential features of a sound mathematical model.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Students will acquire the ability to present mathematical models related to financial and insurance risks—including credit risk, counterparty risk, and longevity risk—with scientific rigor. They will also be able to discuss valuation techniques for the financial and insurance contracts covered in the course, effectively communicating quantitative results within the fields of financial and actuarial sciences.

LEARNING SKILLS
The course will provide the foundational tools needed to begin a career or pursue further studies in the financial and actuarial domains, fostering the ability to independently tackle new, moderately complex problems through the theoretical and methodological framework provided.

Prerequisites

Financial mathematics (compound intereset rates, force of interest and annuities).
Probability (Discrete and continuous random variables, expectations, conditional probability)
Methematical models in continuous time for financial merkets, pricing and hedging of derivatives.

Program

Week 1:
Introduction to Credit Risk
- Definition, sources, and measurement
- Credit events and credit exposure
- Credit Ratings
Structural Models of Credit Risk
- Merton model and extensions (Black-Cox)
- Applications and limitations

Week 2:
Reduced-Form (Intensity-Based) Models
- Default intensity and survival probabilities
- Hazard rates and estimation techniques
Credit Valuation Models
- Credit spreads
- Valuation of risky bonds

Week 3:
Credit Derivatives
- Credit Default Swaps (CDS)
- Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs)
Credit Risk in Counterparty Exposure
- CVA, DVA, and funding adjustments (FVA)
- Wrong-way risk

Week 4:
Life insurance setup
- Survival probability
- Deterministic and stochastic models for mortality intensity

Week 5:
Pricing of Life Insuance contracts
- Life Insurance contracts
- Life Annuities (6 hours)

Week 6
Premiums and Reserve Calculations

Books

1. Life insurance mathematics. Hans U. Gerber. With exercises contributed by Samuel H. Cox. 3rd ed. Springer, 1997.

2. Actuarial Mathematics for Life Contingent Risks. David C. M. Dickson, Mary R. Hardy, Howard R. Waters. 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2020.

3. Quantitative Risk Management. McNeil A., Frey R. and Embrecht, P. 2nd ed. Princeton University Press


Bibliography

1. Life insurance mathematics. Hans U. Gerber. With exercises contributed by Samuel H. Cox. 3rd ed. Springer, 1997.

2. Actuarial Mathematics for Life Contingent Risks. David C. M. Dickson, Mary R. Hardy, Howard R. Waters. 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2020.

3. Quantitative Risk Management. McNeil A., Frey R. and Embrecht, P. 2nd ed. Princeton University Press

Teaching methods

Theoretical lectures and exercises

Exam Rules

Learning will be verified through a written exam where you will be asked to solve exercises and to answer theoretical questions on all topics covered during letures.

The exam is passed if the written test is evaluated 18/30 or more. If the exam is passed (i.e. the mark in the written test is at least 18/30), you can withdraw and repeat the exam in one of the next exam calls. This can be done ONE TIME ONLY. The mark obtained at the next exam date cancels the previous mark and cannot be rejected.

To pass this exam students must demonstrate to be able to discuss the main mathematical models for credit risk and their properties; calculate default probabilities using both parametric and empirical methods; discuss the features of credit derivatives and value adjustments; determine survival probability of an individual using the models studied in classes and mortality tables and to know their properties, describe them in mathematical terms and provide their financial meaning; to be able to distinguish life insurance contracts, both classical and modern, and to comment on their characteristics; to be able to determine, both theoretically and with the help of electronic paper sheet, the actuarial value of these contracts, the loss process, premiums, and other important quantities such as net amount at risk, risk premium and saving premium.

Criteria for Formulating the Grade Out of Thirty:

Not sufficient: Significant deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited analytical and synthesis skills, frequent generalizations.

18-20: Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topics with possible imperfections; sufficient analytical, synthesis, and judgment autonomy skills.

21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of the topics; correct analytical and synthesis skills with coherent logical argumentation.

24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics; good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed with sufficient mathematical and economic/financial rigor.

27-29: Complete knowledge and understanding of the topics; considerable analytical and synthesis skills. Good judgment autonomy and arguments expressed with good mathematical and economic/financial rigor.

30-30L: Excellent level of knowledge and understanding of the topics. Remarkable analytical, synthesis, and judgment autonomy skills. Arguments expressed with excellent mathematical and economic/financial mastery.

Attendance Rules

Attendance is not compulsory but highly recommended