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An investigation of time preferences, life expectancy, and annuity versus lump sum choices: Can smoking harm long-term saving decisions?

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  • Hurwitz, Abigail
  • Sade, Orly

Abstract

We exploit the fact that Israeli pension insurance policies do not take health conditions or smoking status into account in annuity pricing to investigate the potential effect of being a smoker on retirement payout choices. Contrary to the idea that smokers have higher discount rates (and thus should prefer the lump sum option), and even though the insurance pricing mechanism means that smokers would be offered the same annuity as nonsmokers (all else equal), we find that smokers do not prefer the lump sum option. We offer and test several potential explanations for our findings: illusions regarding life expectancy, self-control, and advantageous selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Hurwitz, Abigail & Sade, Orly, 2020. "An investigation of time preferences, life expectancy, and annuity versus lump sum choices: Can smoking harm long-term saving decisions?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 812-825.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:180:y:2020:i:c:p:812-825
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2019.05.011
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mette Ejrnæs & Esteban García-Miralles & Mette Gørtz & Petter Lundborg, 2022. "When Death was Postponed: The Effect of HIV Medication on Work and Marriage," CEBI working paper series 22-08, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    3. Hurwitz, Abigail & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Sade, Orly, 2022. "Testing methods to enhance longevity awareness," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 466-475.
    4. Mao, Hui & Shi, Chaoqian & Tang, Heyan & Lu, Yufeng, 2024. "Time preferences and energy consumption of rural household in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    5. Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Knebel, Caroline & Weber, Martin, 2023. "Do individuals accept fluctuations in pension income?," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-019, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Smoking; Financial decision; Time preference; Longevity insurance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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