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Money, Bank Credit, and Economic Cycles - The Ludwig von Mises ...

Money, Bank Credit, and Economic Cycles - The Ludwig von Mises ...

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588 <strong>Money</strong>, <strong>Bank</strong> <strong>Credit</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Cycles</strong>(77) Debit <strong>Credit</strong>Operational costs(Claims, administrativeexpenses, etc.)CashWe should point out that operational costs absorb only aportion of the total amount paid in premiums to life insurancecompanies, which must reserve a significant part of their premiumincome to cover not only future risks (since companiescharge constant annual premiums for the coverage of riskswhich increase in probability as policyholders grow older),but also the important saving component usually incorporatedin the most popular types of life insurance. This secondshare of the premium total generates reserves in the form oflong-term investments recorded as the insurer’s assets <strong>and</strong>counterbalanced on the liability side by a mathematical reserveaccount, which shows the present actuarial value of the futurecommitments the insurance company makes to its policyholders.<strong>The</strong> corresponding entries are as follows:(78) Debit <strong>Credit</strong>Long-term investmentsCash(79) Portion of premium Mathematical reservesincome which is reserved (future commitments to(expenses)policyholders)<strong>The</strong> life insurance company’s balance sheet would looklike this:

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