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Deferred policy acquisition costs
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Disclosures [Abstract]  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
Deferred policy acquisition costs
The following table presents the amounts of policy acquisition costs deferred and amortized for the years ended:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
10,150

 
$
(1,696
)
 
$
(3,763
)
Policy acquisition costs deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct commissions
 
32,927

 
28,027

 
26,142

Ceding commissions
 
(9,984
)
 
(9,213
)
 
(34,478
)
Other underwriting and policy acquisition costs
 
2,827

 
2,999

 
3,013

Policy acquisition costs deferred
 
25,770

 
21,813

 
(5,323
)
Amortization of net policy acquisition costs
 
(24,145
)
 
(9,967
)
 
7,390

Balance, end of year
 
$
11,775

 
$
10,150

 
$
(1,696
)

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the decrease in the deferred ceding commissions and the change in the amortization of net policy acquisition costs were the result of the commutation of the MLQS effective October 1, 2016. The MLQS was not renewed for calendar year 2017. The negative, or liability, balances at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were also due to the effect of the deferred ceding commissions related to the MLQS. See Note 8 for further details regarding the MLQS.