On the expected discounted penalty function at ruin of a surplus process with interest

Abstract

In this paper, we study the expected value of a discounted penalty function at ruin of the classical surplus process modified by the inclusion of interest on the surplus. The ‘penalty’ is simply a function of the surplus immediately prior to ruin and the deficit at ruin. An integral equation for the expected value is derived, while the exact solution is given when the initial surplus is zero. Dickson’s [Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 11 (1992) 191] formulae for the distribution of the surplus immediately prior to ruin in the classical surplus process are generalised to our modified surplus process.