{"title":"What Drives Pension Worries in Europe? A Multilevel Analysis","authors":"D. Hershey, K. Henkens, H. van Dalen","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1573557","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1573557","url":null,"abstract":"Nations in Europe have been developing rapidly since the formation of the European Union (EU), not only socially and demographically, but economically as well. One question a number of countries will face during this period of structural transition will be how (and how well) they are able to support their citizens in old age. A related question involves whether individuals worry about their financial future in retirement, and the extent to which they take active steps to save in order to ensure an adequate standard of living. In this study, we analyze data from the third wave of the European Social Survey, which represents 22,609 working adults from 23 countries in Europe. We used multilevel modelling to focus on the explanatory factors that underlie individual and country-level effects in future pension worry and saving behavior. Findings suggest that once individual-level dimensions are taken into account, country-level predictors explain appreciable variance in worry, but not saving practices. Pension worries are more severe in countries with a low retirement age and a strong projected increase in future population aging. This suggests that the drive toward raising the retirement age in a number of EU countries may alleviate some of the worries of its citizens.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"356 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132543286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What Replacement Rates Should Households Use?","authors":"J. Scholz, Ananth Seshadri","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1513387","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1513387","url":null,"abstract":"Common financial planning advice calls for households to ensure that retirement income exceeds 70 percent of average pre-retirement income. We use an augmented life-cycle model of household behavior to examine optimal replacement rates for a representative set of retired American households. We relate optimal replacement rates to observable household characteristics and in doing so, make progress in developing a set of theory-based, but readily understandable financial guidelines. Our work should be a useful building block for efforts to assess the adequacy of retirement wealth preparation and efforts to promote financial literacy and well-being.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130374000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"House Prices, Home Equity-Based Borrowing, and the U.S. Household Leverage Crisis","authors":"Atif R. Mian, Amir Sufi","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1397607","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1397607","url":null,"abstract":"Using individual-level data on homeowner debt and defaults from 1997 to 2008, we show that borrowing against the increase in home equity by existing homeowners is responsible for a significant fraction of both the sharp rise in U.S. household leverage from 2002 to 2006 and the increase in defaults from 2006 to 2008. Employing land topology-based housing supply elasticity as an instrument for house price growth, we estimate that the average homeowner extracts 25 to 30 cents for every dollar increase in home equity. Money extracted from increased home equity is not used to purchase new real estate or pay down high credit card balances, which suggests that borrowed funds may be used for real outlays (i.e., consumption or home improvement). Home equity-based borrowing is stronger for younger households, households with low credit scores, and households with high initial credit card utilization rates. Homeowners in high house price appreciation areas experience a relative decline in default rates from 2002 to 2006 as they borrow heavily against their home equity, but experience very high default rates from 2006 to 2008. Our estimates suggest that home equity-based borrowing is equal to 2.8% of GDP every year from 2002 to 2006, and accounts for at least 34% of new defaults from 2006 to 2008.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127405198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Positive Affect Counters the Negative Effects of Choice Overload","authors":"Alice M. Isen, Guergana Spassova","doi":"10.2139/SSRN.1430542","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.1430542","url":null,"abstract":"Results from two studies show that positive affect reduces the negative consequences of choice overload on the consumer choice experience and on satisfaction with the chosen option. In study 1, these effects were observed in an on-line consumer choice setting. Study 2 was conducted in the presence of the actual products and extended these results to measures of post-sampling satisfaction and consideration set for purchase.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128230621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aging Asia’s Looming Pension Crisis","authors":"Donghyun Park","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1616941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1616941","url":null,"abstract":"Due to population aging, weakening of family-based support, and other factors, old-age income support is becoming an issue of growing importance throughout Asia. This is especially true in East Asia and Southeast Asia where the demographic transition is already well under way. This paper provides a broad overview of the current state of the pension systems in People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam; diagnoses the pension systems; and identifies their major structural weaknesses. Key systemic failures were found to be low coverage, inadequate benefits, lack of financial sustainability, and insufficient support for the elderly poor. The paper concludes with some specific policy directions for pension reform to strengthen the capacity of Asian pension systems in delivering economic security for the looming large and growing army of the elderly in the region.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122182677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Shaping Returns in DC Pension Accounts: The Question of Rate of Return Guarantees","authors":"David Mccarthy","doi":"10.2139/SSRN.1424482","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.1424482","url":null,"abstract":"While many economists have priced rate of return guarantees inside retirement accounts, in an incomplete market the value of a guarantee to individual investors may be different from its cost. Using a calibrated lifecycle model, we jointly estimate both lifetime asset allocation and asset location for individuals with DC retirement accounts who cannot trade dynamically, who face significant unhedgeable income risk and who receive means tested benefits and pay taxes. We use the model to estimate the demand for a 5 year guaranteed investment product which allows individuals to construct a wide variety of 5 year investment portfolio rate of return guarantees inside their DC retirement accounts. We find that the ability of investors to choose their asset allocation between equities and bonds largely eliminates any demand for 5 year portfolio return guarantees at fair prices for investors with standard preferences. Guarantees are most valuable for individuals who are pessimistic about future equity returns but who have low risk aversion and so choose not invest in bonds. We suggest that portfolio restrictions on asset allocation inside retirement accounts may consequently be a more cost effective way of managing risk exposure than explicit rate of return guarantees for most people in DC retirement systems.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125580444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Driving for Fun? - A Comparison of Weekdays and Weekend Travel","authors":"M. Frondel, Colin Vance","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1430371","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1430371","url":null,"abstract":"Focusing on individual motorists in car-owning households in Germany, this paper econometrically investigates the determinants of automobile travel with the specific aim of quantifying the effects of fuel prices and person-level attributes on travel conducted over a five-day week and weekend. Our analysis is predicated on the notion that car use is an individual decision, albeit one that is dependent on intra-household allocation processes, thereby building on a growing body of literature that has identified the importance of socioeconomic factors such as employment status, gender, and the presence of children in determining both access to the car and distance driven. To capture this two-stage decision process, we employ the Two-Part Model, which consists of Probit and OLS estimators, and derive elasticity estimates that incorporate both the discrete and continuous choices pertaining to car use.With fuel price elasticity estimates ranging between -0.42 and -0.48, our results suggest raising prices via fuel taxes to be a promising energy conservation and climate protection measure.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"61 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134304423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Do You Look to the Future or Focus on Today? The Impact of Life Experience on Intertemporal Decisions","authors":"Jennifer L. Aaker, Wendy Liu","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1292547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1292547","url":null,"abstract":"In this research, we investigate the impact of signiWcant life experiences on intertemporal decisions among young adults. A series of experiments focus speciWcally on the impact of experiencing the death of a close other by cancer. We show that such an experience, which bears information about time, is associated with making decisions that favor the long-term future over short-term interests (Studies 1 and 2). Underlying this eVect appears to be increased salience and concreteness regarding one’s future life course, shifting focus away from the present toward the long run (Studies 3 and 4). Finally, we explore the shift caused by a cancer death of a public Wgure and examine its stability over time (Study 5). Implications for research on intertemporal decision making and the impact of life events on perceptions and preferences are discussed.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"146 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121543306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Inter-Temporal Model of Dirty Money","authors":"R. Araujo, T. Moreira","doi":"10.1108/13685200510700552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13685200510700552","url":null,"abstract":"Presents a basic model by which a representative agent chooses how to allocate his savings optimally between money of legal origin and dirty money; he holds the laundered dirty money, from which the money laundering process generates a positive transaction cost. Analyses the welfare of such an economy as a result of money laundering, also the conditions for reducing the incentives for this transforming of illegal into legal money: the incentive can be minimised if the effectiveness of anti‐money laundering increases. Concludes that the welfare of an economy where there is only legal money is greater than one in which legal and illegal activities coexist.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130949103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Do People Care About Relative Income?","authors":"Claus Bjorn Jorgensen, J. Herby","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.1805467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1805467","url":null,"abstract":"This paper investigates whether people’s satisfaction declines when the income of their peer group rises. We try to answer this question by applying an extensive panel data study covering the European Union. Our empirical model provides three main findings. First, we find that higher comparison income is associated with lower self-reported satisfaction, and that the effect is robust for various re-specifications of the model. Second, we find that the income externality is asymmetric. Third, we find suggestive evidence that the effect is only significant for people who socialize frequently.","PeriodicalId":175023,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models & Savings (Topic)","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2004-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126522274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}