Risk Theory with a nonlinear Dividend Barrier

In the framework of classical risk theory we investigate a surplus process in the presence of a nonlinear dividend barrier and derive equations for two characteristics of such a process, the probability of survival and the expected sum of discounted dividend payments. Number-theoretic solution techniques are developed for approximating these quantities and numerical illustrations are given for exponential claim sizes and a parabolic dividend barrier. Received May 8, 2001 Published online: July 8, 2002