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Who is internationally diversified? Evidence from the 401(k) plans of 296 firms

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  • Bekaert, Geert
  • Hoyem, Kenton
  • Hu, Wei-Yin
  • Ravina, Enrichetta

Abstract

Drawing on a novel database of the 401(k) plans of 296 firms, we examine the international equity allocations of 3.8 million individuals over the 2005–2011 period. We find enormous cross-individual variation, ranging from zero to more than 75%, and strong cohort effects, with younger cohorts investing more internationally than older ones and each cohort investing more internationally over time. Access to financial advice, lower fees, and more international fund choices are associated with higher international allocations, suggesting a role for plan design and policy. Education, financial literacy, and the fraction of foreign-born population in the ZIP code also have positive effects on international diversification, consistent with explanations based on familiarity bias and information barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • Bekaert, Geert & Hoyem, Kenton & Hu, Wei-Yin & Ravina, Enrichetta, 2017. "Who is internationally diversified? Evidence from the 401(k) plans of 296 firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(1), pages 86-112.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:124:y:2017:i:1:p:86-112
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2016.12.010
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    6. Davis, J. Scott & van Wincoop, Eric, 2024. "A theory of capital flow retrenchment," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    7. Park, Keun Woo & Jeong, Seong Hoon & Oh, Ji Yeol Jimmy, 2019. "Foreigners at the gate? Foreign investor trading and the disposition effect of domestic individual investors," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 165-180.
    8. Hiraki, Takato & Liu, Ming, 2021. "Do global equity mutual funds exhibit home bias?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    9. Manuel Rupprecht, 2020. "Income and wealth of euro area households in times of ultra-loose monetary policy: stylised facts from new national and financial accounts data," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 47(2), pages 281-302, May.
    10. Carpio, Ronaldo & Guo, Meixin & Liu, Yuan & Pyun, Ju Hyun, 2021. "Wealth heterogeneity, information acquisition and equity home bias: Evidence from U.S. household surveys of consumer finance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    11. Manh-Tung Ho & Ngoc-Thang B. Le & Hung-Long D. Tran & Quoc-Hung Nguyen & Manh-Ha Pham & Minh-Hoang Ly & Manh-Toan Ho & Minh-Hoang Nguyen & Quan-Hoang Vuong, 2021. "A Systematic and Critical Review on the Research Landscape of Finance in Vietnam from 2008 to 2020," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, May.
    12. Weber, Martin & Laudenbach, Christine & Ungeheuer, Michael, 2019. "How to Alleviate Correlation Neglect," CEPR Discussion Papers 13737, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Renée Fry-McKibbin & Kate McKinnon & Vance L Martin, 2022. "Measuring Global Interest Rate Comovements with Implications for Monetary Policy Interdependence," RBA Annual Conference Papers acp2022-07, Reserve Bank of Australia, revised Dec 2022.
    14. Shao, Ran & Wang, Na, 2021. "Trust and local bias of individual investors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    15. Markus Sihvonen, 2023. "Equity Home Bias in a Capital Market Union," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(4), pages 953-999, December.
    16. Florentsen, Bjarne & Nielsson, Ulf & Raahauge, Peter & Rangvid, Jesper, 2020. "Turning local: Home-bias dynamics of relocating foreigners," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 436-452.
    17. Lee, Junyong & Lee, Kyounghun & Oh, Frederick Dongchuhl, 2023. "International portfolio diversification and the home bias puzzle," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    18. Zhang, Annie C. & Fang, Jiali & Jacobsen, Ben & Marshall, Ben R., 2018. "Peer effects, personal characteristics and asset allocation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 76-95.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International diversification; Micro data; 401(k) portfolios;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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