Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30363726›Full record

ArticleGenus2018

Comparing strategies for matching mortality forecasts to the most recently observed data: exploring the trade-off between accuracy and robustness.

Lenny Stoeldraijer, Coen van Duin, Leo van Wissen, Fanny Janssen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genus, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Mortality Forecasting with the Lee-Carter Method: Adjusting for Smoothing and Lifespan Disparity.European journal of population = Revue europeenne de demographie · 2021
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Lenny Stoeldraijer1Statistics Netherlands, Henri Faasdreef 312, PO Box 24500, 2492 JP Den Haag, The Netherlands.
Coen van Duin1Statistics Netherlands, Henri Faasdreef 312, PO Box 24500, 2492 JP Den Haag, The Netherlands.
Leo van Wissen3Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, Lange Houtstraat 19, 2511 CV Den Haag, The Netherlands.
Fanny Janssen2Population Research Centre, University of Groningen, PO Box 72, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGiven the increased link between retirement age and payments to the development in life expectancy, a precise and regular forecast of life expectancy is of utmost importance. The choice of the jump-off rates, i.e. the rates in the last year of the fitting period, is essential for matching mortality forecasts to the most recently observed data. A general approach to the choice of the jump-off rates is currently lacking.

objectiveWe evaluate six different options for the jump-off rates and examine their effects on the robustness and accuracy of the mortality forecast. DATA AND

methodsDeath and exposure numbers by age for eight European countries over the years 1960-2014 were obtained from the Human Mortality Database. We examined the use of model values as jump-off rates versus observed values in the last year or averaged over the last couple of years. The future life expectancy at age 65 is calculated for different fitting periods and jump-off rates using the Lee-Carter model and examined on accuracy (mean absolute forecast error) and robustness (standard deviation of the change in projected e65).

resultsThe choice for the jump-off rates clearly influences the accuracy and robustness of the mortality forecast, albeit in different ways. For most countries using the last observed values as jump-off rates resulted in the most accurate method, which relates to the relatively high estimation error of the model in recent years. The most robust method is obtained by using an average of observed years as jump-off rates. The more years that are averaged, the better the robustness, but accuracy decreases with more years averaged.

conclusionCarefully considering the best choice for the jump-off rates is essential when forecasting mortality. The best strategy for matching mortality forecasts to the most recently observed data depends on the goal of the forecast, the country-specific past mortality trends observed, and the model fit.

Indexed as

AccuracyJump-off ratesMortality forecastingRobustness

Identifiers

PMID30363726
PMCPMC6182335

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.