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Inequality of opportunity and household risky asset investment: Evidence from panel data in China

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  • Song, Yang
  • Wu, Weixing
  • Zhou, Guangsu

Abstract

Based on the household panel data over three waves in China, this paper investigates how inequality of opportunity of a region affects household risky asset investment. The empirical results show that inequality of opportunity raises both the probability and the share of household risky asset investment in the region. Our key results are robust to a series of sensitivity checks. The heterogeneity analyses tell us that richer and more educated households seem to be affected more by inequality of opportunity of the county they reside in. The paper also tests several possible channels behind the observed relationship, showing that the following channels help bring upon this effect: increasing material aspiration, changing risk preferences, and reducing household expenditures.

Suggested Citation

  • Song, Yang & Wu, Weixing & Zhou, Guangsu, 2020. "Inequality of opportunity and household risky asset investment: Evidence from panel data in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:63:y:2020:i:c:s1043951x20301103
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2020.101513
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income inequality; Inequality of opportunity; Risky asset investment; Stock market participation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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