Arbeitspapier

Optimal Saving Rules for Loss-Averse Agents under Uncertainty

Most empirical studies assume only monotonic preferences for households. Behavioral research however providessubstantial evidence that preferences for wealth are measured relative to a reference point. In this paper weintroduce and solve a two-period consumption and savings model for a loss-averse agent who measures utilityfrom consumption relative to a benchmark level. The solution is given as a parametric decision rule with oneunknown parameter that depends on the distribution of the return on saving. We find non-linearity in the fractionof wealth saved, where the specific saving pattern depends on the sign of the real return on savings. The amount of saving is nondecreasing in initial wealth and the riskiness of the return distribution.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper ; No. 01-079/4

Classification
Wirtschaft
Subject
Consumption and savings
behavioral value function
loss aversion
Sparen
Konsumtheorie
Risikoaversion
Theorie

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Siegmann, Arjen H.
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Tinbergen Institute
(where)
Amsterdam and Rotterdam
(when)
2001

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Siegmann, Arjen H.
  • Tinbergen Institute

Time of origin

  • 2001

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