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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Risk aversion and planning horizons
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Jean-Charles Rochet
  • Antoine Bommier
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Journal of the European Economic Association
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1542-4766
Volume 4
Number 4
Page Range 708 - 734
Date 2006
Abstract Text A number of empirical studies seem to reject the additive separability of preferences that is assumed in most theoretical models of the life cycle. We show that, when additive separability is abandoned and interactions between consumptions at different dates are taken into account, an interesting relation emerges between risk aversion and length of the planning horizon. Specifically, we show that when consumptions at different dates are specific substitutes, risk aversion increases with horizon length. This may explain the surprising empirical finding that individuals seem to increase the share of wealth held in risky assets as they become older. (JEL: D11, D91, G11)
Digital Object Identifier 10.1162/JEEA.2006.4.4.708
Other Identification Number merlin-id:3546
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