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The Effect of Wealth on Individual and Household Labor Supply: Evidence from Swedish Lotteries

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  • David Cesarini
  • Erik Lindqvist
  • Matthew J. Notowidigdo
  • Robert Östling

Abstract

We study the effect of wealth on labor supply using the randomized assignment of monetary prizes in a large sample of Swedish lottery players. We find winning a lottery prize modestly reduces labor earnings, with the reduction being immediate, persistent, and similar by age, education, and sex. A calibrated dynamic model of individual labor supply implies an average lifetime marginal propensity to earn out of unearned income of -0.11, and labor-supply elasticities in the lower range of previously reported estimates. The earnings response is stronger for winners than their spouses, which is inconsistent with unitary household labor supply models.

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  • David Cesarini & Erik Lindqvist & Matthew J. Notowidigdo & Robert Östling, 2015. "The Effect of Wealth on Individual and Household Labor Supply: Evidence from Swedish Lotteries," NBER Working Papers 21762, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21762
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    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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