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Why do we postpone annuity purchases?

Author

Listed:
  • Hippolyte d'Albis

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Andrei Kalk

    (Universität Wien = University of Vienna)

Abstract

This paper seeks to explain why annuity purchases are postponed to a later age. We consider an overlapping generations model with uncertain lifetime and two types of annuities. It is shown that, if the economy is dynamically inefficient, individuals demand annuities without delay. However, if it is efficient, annuity purchases are postponed. We also show that these results are robust to several extensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Hippolyte d'Albis & Andrei Kalk, 2021. "Why do we postpone annuity purchases?," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-03166724, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:halshs-03166724
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmateco.2021.102500
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03166724
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    References listed on IDEAS

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