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Debt, Financial Vulnerability, and Repayment Behaviour in Older Canadian Households

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  • Jie Zhou

Abstract

Earlier research has documented that debt at older ages has increased significantly in Canada over the period from 1999 to 2016. In this article, I explore the consequences of a growing proportion of older Canadian households experiencing financial vulnerability. After controlling for household characteristics, I find among older households that a high debt-to-asset ratio and very low liquid wealth are significantly and positively associated with skipping or delaying a mortgage or non-mortgage debt payment and with usually paying the minimum amount or less on credit cards in the previous year. The debt-to-income ratio, however, is not an important indicator of financial vulnerability for older households.

Suggested Citation

  • Jie Zhou, 2022. "Debt, Financial Vulnerability, and Repayment Behaviour in Older Canadian Households," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 48(1), pages 108-123, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpp:issued:v:48:y:2022:i:1:p:108-123
    DOI: 10.3138/cpp.2020-095
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lusardi, Annamaria & Tufano, Peter, 2015. "Debt literacy, financial experiences, and overindebtedness," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(4), pages 332-368, October.
    2. Nicolas Bédard & Pierre-Carl Michaud, 2021. "Playing with Fire? Household Debt near Retirement in Canada," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 47(1), pages 56-71, March.
    3. Ari Hyytinen & Hanna Putkuri, 2018. "Household Optimism and Overborrowing," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 50(1), pages 55-76, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    debt; financial vulnerability; household finance; household indebtedness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth

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