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Habit persistence reduces risk aversion

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  • Christian Gollier

    (University of Toulouse-1 Capitole)

Abstract

How does habit formation affect the dynamic demand for insurance and risky assets? We examine a dynamic portfolio-saving choice problem for two structures of preferences. In the first model, the consumer faces an exogenous path of minimum levels of subsistence over time. In the second model, these levels are subject to habit persistence, i.e. they are increasing in past consumption. We show that adding habit persistence to the initial model substantially reduces the aversion to risk. The intuition is that the positive correlation between current portfolio returns and future levels of subsistence helps time-diversifying risks. This result goes against the widespread idea that habit persistence can resolve the equity premium puzzle.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Gollier, 2021. "Habit persistence reduces risk aversion," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 46(2), pages 214-223, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:gpprii:v:46:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1057_s41288-021-00215-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41288-021-00215-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abel, Andrew B, 1990. "Asset Prices under Habit Formation and Catching Up with the Joneses," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 38-42, May.
    2. John Y. Campbell & John Cochrane, 1999. "Force of Habit: A Consumption-Based Explanation of Aggregate Stock Market Behavior," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(2), pages 205-251, April.
    3. Lawrence J. Christiano & Michele Boldrin & Jonas D. M. Fisher, 2001. "Habit Persistence, Asset Returns, and the Business Cycle," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(1), pages 149-166, March.
    4. Constantinides, George M, 1990. "Habit Formation: A Resolution of the Equity Premium Puzzle," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(3), pages 519-543, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christos I. Giannikos & Georgios Koimisis, 2021. "Equity Premium with Habits, Wealth Inequality and Background Risk," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, July.

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