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Betting on a Long Life – the Role of Subjective Life Expectancy in the Demand for Private Pension Insurance of German Households

Author

Listed:
  • Ulrike Doerr
  • Katharina Schulte

Abstract

With a view to investigating the presence of adverse selection in the private pension insurance market, we analyze determinants of private pension insurance uptake of German households. Using the SAVE 2005 survey data on savings and old-age provision, we estimate a probit model of insurance holdings. We find that subjective life expectancy is positively related with the probability of having supplementary private pension insurance. This indicates that the German private pension insurance market is in fact characterized by adverse selection. As expected, pre-existing entitlements to benefits from the public pension system tend to be a substitute to private insurance. Furthermore, financial literacy enhances the uptake of private pension insurance. We also find evidence for a bequest motive in old-age provision, but see no indication for pooling longevity risk within couples.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrike Doerr & Katharina Schulte, 2012. "Betting on a Long Life – the Role of Subjective Life Expectancy in the Demand for Private Pension Insurance of German Households," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 132(2), pages 233-263.
    • Handle: RePEc:aeq:aeqsjb:v132_y2012_i2_q2_p233-263
    DOI: 10.3790/schm.132.2.233
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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