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Vulnerabilità e benessere delle famiglie italiane

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  • Luisa ANDERLONI
  • Daniela VANDONE

Abstract

Vulnerability and well-being of Italian households. The sharp rise in interest rates on loans and the concurrent phase of stagnation/recession created wide scale financial and economic difficulties for Italian households. These difficulties have raised questions as to the risk Italian households face of not being able to face the financial and economic needs of everyday life and/or loan commitments contracted with banks or other types of lenders. We conducted a survey with the aim: i) to create an index to measure households’ financial vulnerability that can be used to monitor developments in the phenomenon over time; ii) to create a panel of Italian households for periodic studies of the conditions of financial vulnerability; iii) to analyse the determinants of financial vulnerability; iv) to investigate the socio-demographic, economic and behavioural characteristics of groups of homogeneous individuals by degree of financial vulnerability. The innovative feature of this work is the creation of an indicator of financial vulnerability aimed at synthesizing different profiles of household financial instability. A total number of 3,102 Italian households make up the sample. Empirical estimates show interesting results: for the median level of the financial vulnerability index households already exhibit some important symptoms of financial vulnerability, such as problems in getting to the end of the month or an inability to face unexpected expenses. , With regards the determinants of the financial vulnerability index, as expected, a mix of factors is relevant in determining household financial vulnerability. Three main findings need to be pointed out. First, the level of debt servicing is positively related to financial vulnerability and the effect is stronger for households holding unsecured debt, i. e. consumer credit. Second, financial vulnerability also increases for impulsive individuals, who may adopt impatient, short-sighted behaviour patterns which make it difficult for them to be fully aware of the consequences of their financial and spending decisions. Third, a higher level of education helps to reduce financial fragility.

Suggested Citation

  • Luisa ANDERLONI & Daniela VANDONE, 2011. "Vulnerabilità e benessere delle famiglie italiane," Departmental Working Papers 2011-40, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:mil:wpdepa:2011-40
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Vulnerability Index; Household debt; Consumer Credit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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