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Intergenerational Risksharing and Equilibrium Asset Prices

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  • John Y. Campbell
  • Yves Nosbusch

Abstract

In the presence of overlapping generations, markets are incomplete because it is impossible to engage in risksharing trades with the unborn. In such an environment the government can use a social security system, with contingent taxes and benefits, to improve risksharing across generations. An interesting question is how the form of the social security system affects asset prices in equilibrium. In this paper we set up a simple model with two risky factors of production: human capital, owned by the young, and physical capital, owned by all older generations. We show that a social security system that optimally shares risks across generations exposes future generations to a share of the risk in physical capital returns. Such a system reduces precautionary saving and increases the risk-bearing capacity of the economy. Under plausible conditions it increases the riskless interest rate, lowers the price of physical capital, and reduces the risk premium on physical capital.

Suggested Citation

  • John Y. Campbell & Yves Nosbusch, 2007. "Intergenerational Risksharing and Equilibrium Asset Prices," FMG Discussion Papers dp589, Financial Markets Group.
  • Handle: RePEc:fmg:fmgdps:dp589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Glover & Jonathan Heathcote & Dirk Krueger & José-Víctor Ríos-Rull, 2020. "Intergenerational Redistribution in the Great Recession," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(10), pages 3730-3778.
    2. Nicolae B. Gârleanu & Stavros Panageas, 2020. "Heterogeneity and Asset Prices: A Different Approach," NBER Working Papers 26607, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Stéphane Guibaud & Yves Nosbusch & Dimitri Vayanos, 2013. "Bond Market Clienteles, the Yield Curve, and the Optimal Maturity Structure of Government Debt," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 26(8), pages 1914-1961.
    4. Beetsma, Roel M.W.J. & Bovenberg, A. Lans & Romp, Ward E., 2011. "Funded pensions and intergenerational and international risk sharing in general equilibrium," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 1516-1534.
    5. Campbell, John Y. & Nosbusch, Yves, 2007. "Intergenerational risksharing and equilibrium asset prices," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(8), pages 2251-2268, November.
    6. Marcel Lever & Ilja Boelaars & Ryanne Cox & Roel Mehlkopf, 2015. "The allocation of financial risks during the life cycle in individual and collective DC pension contracts," CPB Discussion Paper 317, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    7. Luciano Greco, 2008. "A Note on Social Security and Public Debt," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0083, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    8. Daniel Dimitrov, 2022. "Intergenerational Risk Sharing with Market Liquidity Risk," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-028/VI, Tinbergen Institute.
    9. Amadeu DaSilva & Mira Farka, 2017. "Retracted: Portfolio Allocation and Asset Returns in an OLG Economy with Increasing Risk Aversion," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 23(4), pages 836-836, September.
    10. Panageas, Stavros, 2020. "The Implications of Heterogeneity and Inequality for Asset Pricing," Foundations and Trends(R) in Finance, now publishers, vol. 12(3), pages 199-275, November.
    11. Marcel Lever & Ilja Boelaars & Ryanne Cox & Roel Mehlkopf, 2015. "The allocation of financial risks during the life cycle in individual and collective DC pension contracts," CPB Discussion Paper 317.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    12. Farmer, Roger & Farmer, Leland, 2022. "Zoomers and Boomers: Asset Prices and Intergenerational Inequality," CEPR Discussion Papers 17594, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Carlsson, Evert & Erlandzon, Karl, 2006. "The Bright Side of Shiller-Swaps: A Solution to Inter-generational Risk-sharing," Working Papers in Economics 233, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics, revised 24 Oct 2006.
    14. Devis Geron, 2009. "Social Security Incidence under Uncertainty Assessing Italian Reforms," CESifo Working Paper Series 2812, CESifo.

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    JEL classification:

    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • H3 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents

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