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Do wealth fluctuations generate time-varying risk aversion? Italian micro-evidence on household asset allocation

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  • Giuseppe Cappelletti

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

Data from the Italian Survey of Households Income and Wealth (SHIW) are used to study portfolio allocations change in response to fluctuations in wealth. In particular I test for the prediction of models with habit formation that changes in liquid wealth will affect households' risk aversion and risky asset investment. After controlling for the decision to enter and leave the risky asset market, I find, in contrast with other studies (Brunnermeier and Nagel, 2008 and Chiappori and Paiella, 2008), that changes in wealth do help to explain changes in asset allocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Cappelletti, 2012. "Do wealth fluctuations generate time-varying risk aversion? Italian micro-evidence on household asset allocation," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 845, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_845_12
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cappelletti, Giuseppe & Guazzarotti, Giovanni & Tommasino, Pietro, 2014. "The effect of age on portfolio choices: evidence from an Italian pension fund," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(4), pages 389-419, October.
    2. Liu, Xuan & Yang, Fang & Cai, Zongwu, 2016. "Does relative risk aversion vary with wealth? Evidence from households׳ portfolio choice data," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 229-248.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    portfolio allocation; risk aversion; habit-formation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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