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Stock market participation, portfolio choice and pensions over the life-cycle

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  • Steffan G. Ball

Abstract

The empirical evidence on stock market participation and portfolio choice defies the predictions of standard life-cycle theory. In this paper we develop and estimate a model of portfolio choice that can account for the limited stock market participation and substantial portfolio diversification seen in the data. We present three realistic extensions to the basic framework: per period fixed costs, public pension provision, and a small chance of a disastrous event in the stock market. The estimated model is able to explain observed patterns at reasonable wealth levels, while keeping to a fairly simple framework. We demonstrate that it is no longer necessary to assume counterfactual asset holdings, heterogeneity in preferences, or implausible parameter values, in order to match key financial statistics.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffan G. Ball, 2009. "Stock market participation, portfolio choice and pensions over the life-cycle," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2008-64, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedgfe:2008-64
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    Cited by:

    1. Roine Vestman, 2019. "Limited Stock Market Participation Among Renters and Homeowners," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(4), pages 1494-1535.
    2. Jun Zhan, 2015. "Who holds risky assets and how much?," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 42(2), pages 323-370, May.
    3. Darius Palia & Yaxuan Qi & Yangru Wu, 2014. "Heterogeneous Background Risks and Portfolio Choice: Evidence from Micro‐level Data," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(8), pages 1687-1720, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retirement income; Portfolio management;

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household

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