A. Introduction

A modern definition of tontines - The occurrence of tontines in German-speaking territories - Tontines and the history of life insurance - Lorenzo Tonti and the origins of tontines - The objectives of the present volume

B. The occurrence of tontines in German-speaking territories

Tontines mentioned in the modern literature - The origins of tontines in German-speaking territories - The three phases of the development of tontines - Comparative observations - Conclusion

C. Tontine designs in German-speaking territories

Basic tontine designs - The first phase: self contained tontines in the 17th and 18th centuries - The second phase: tontines issued by pension funds in the 19th century - The third phase: tontine life insurance products in the late 19th century - Conclusion and comparative observations

D. From a multi-purpose to a single-purpose financial product

The first phase: self-contained tontines in the 17th and 18th centuries - The second phase: tontines issued by pension funds in the 19th century - The third phase: tontine life insurance products in the late 19th century

E. Tontines and the development life insurance

Tontines and the developemt of actuarial science - Spreading the idea of life insurance - The legal aspects of tontines and the development of life insurance law - Conclusion and comparative observations

F. Conclusion

Archival Sources, Other Sources, Bibliography, Index