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Tenancy by the Entirety and the Value of Wealth Insurance for Entrepreneurs

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  • Traczynski, Jeffrey

    (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Abstract

This paper explores the willingness of entrepreneurs to pay for wealth insurance to protect personal assets in case of business failure and the impact of this strategy on small business operation decisions. I show that antidiscrimination laws allow married firm owners in half of U.S. states to choose between asset protection and having more collateral for business funding, allowing entrepreneurs to reveal their valuation for preserving personal assets at time of failure. I find that firm owners value asset protection offered by tenancy by the entirety laws at $900-$1000 per year. Firms receive smaller loans when entrepreneurs use this form of ownership to reduce the personal costs of firm failure, but show no differences in hiring patterns or spending on risky projects. This strategy of preparation in case of failure appears to affect small businesses through the funding channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Traczynski, Jeffrey, 2020. "Tenancy by the Entirety and the Value of Wealth Insurance for Entrepreneurs," IZA Discussion Papers 13173, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reint Gropp & John Karl Scholz & Michelle J. White, 1997. "Personal Bankruptcy and Credit Supply and Demand," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 112(1), pages 217-251.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    personal bankruptcy; tenancy by the entirety; revealed preference; entrepreneurship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K35 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Personal Bankruptcy Law
    • K36 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Family and Personal Law
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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