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Understanding the Ownership Structure of Corporate Bonds

Author

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  • Ralph S. J. Koijen
  • Motohiro Yogo

Abstract

Insurers are the largest institutional investors of corporate bonds. However, a standard theory of insurance markets, in which insurers maximize firm value subject to regulatory or risk constraints, predicts no allocation to corporate bonds. We resolve this puzzle in an equilibrium asset pricing model with leverage-constrained households and institutional investors. Insurers have relatively cheap access to leverage through their underwriting activity. They hold a leveraged portfolio of low-beta assets in equilibrium, relaxing other investors' leverage constraints. The model explains recent empirical findings on insurers' portfolio choice and its impact on asset prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralph S. J. Koijen & Motohiro Yogo, 2023. "Understanding the Ownership Structure of Corporate Bonds," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 5(1), pages 73-92, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aerins:v:5:y:2023:i:1:p:73-92
    DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20210550
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuchen Li & Zongxia Liang & Shunzhi Pang, 2022. "Continuous-Time Monotone Mean-Variance Portfolio Selection in Jump-Diffusion Model," Papers 2211.12168, arXiv.org, revised May 2024.
    2. Paul Brockman & Wolfgang Drobetz & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Ying Zheng, 2024. "Do foreign institutional shareholders affect international debt contracting? Evidence from Yankee bond covenants," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(5), pages 551-576, July.
    3. Benjamin Knox & Jakob Ahm Sørensen, 2024. "Insurers’ Investments and Insurance Prices," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2024-058, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    4. Brisker, Eric & Wang, Jinjing & Wang, Shuai, 2024. "Why do life insurers hold sin bonds? Evidence from investment delegation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Thiemo Fetzer & Benjamin Guin & Felipe Netto & Farzad Saidi, 2024. "Insurers Monitor Shocks to Collateral: Micro Evidence from Mortgage-backed Securities," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_590, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    6. Jeong, Misun & Yang, Kiseol & Kim, HaeJung Maria & Min, Jihye, 2024. "Curation subscription box services: Implications for the pet industry," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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