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Racial Differences in the Demand for Life Insurance

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  • Michael S. Gutter
  • Charles B. Hatcher

Abstract

The objective of this article is to measure racial differences in the proportion of human capital that households protect with life insurance. Using the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances data, racial differences in two stages of the process are tested, where it is assumed that households must decide both whether or not to purchase life insurance and how much of their human capital to insure (if they decide to purchase). Among married and cohabitating households, we find that, controlling for demographics and other factors, there is little difference in life insurance ownership between black and white households but that white households insure a larger proportion of their human capital than black households.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael S. Gutter & Charles B. Hatcher, 2008. "Racial Differences in the Demand for Life Insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 75(3), pages 677-689, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:75:y:2008:i:3:p:677-689
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2008.00279.x
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    2. Timothy F. Harris & Aaron Yelowitz, 2018. "Racial disparities in life insurance coverage," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(1), pages 94-107, January.
    3. Song, In Jung & Park, Heejung & Park, Narang & Heo, Wookjae, 2019. "The effect of experiencing a death on life insurance ownership," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 170-176.
    4. Chu-Shiu Li & Gene C. Lai & Saruultuya Tsendsuren & Richard J. Butler & Chwen-Chi Liu, 2023. "Cognitive abilities and life insurance holdings: evidence from 16 European countries," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 48(1), pages 110-166, March.
    5. J. Francois Outreville, 2014. "Risk Aversion, Risk Behavior, and Demand for Insurance: A Survey," Journal of Insurance Issues, Western Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 37(2), pages 158-186.
    6. Rabbani, Abed G., 2020. "Cash value life insurance ownership among young adults: The role of self-discipline and risk tolerance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    7. Thomas Url, 2014. "Vorteile der Risikoübernahme in der klassischen Lebensversicherung," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 60603, February.
    8. Ron Cheung & Cassandra R. Cole & David A. Macpherson & Kathleen A. McCullough & Charles Nyce, 2015. "Demographic Factors and Price Distortions in Insurance," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 18(1), pages 1-28, March.
    9. Andre P. Liebenberg & James M. Carson & Robert E. Hoyt, 2010. "The Demand for Life Insurance Policy Loans," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 77(3), pages 651-666, September.
    10. Tan Andrew K. G. & Yen Steven T. & Hasan Abdul Rahman & Muhamed Kamarudin, 2014. "Demand for Life Insurance in Malaysia: An Ethnic Comparison Using Household Expenditure Survey Data," Asia-Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance, De Gruyter, vol. 8(2), pages 1-26, July.
    11. Lin, Chaonan & Hsiao, Yu-Jen & Yeh, Cheng-Yung, 2017. "Financial literacy, financial advisors, and information sources on demand for life insurance," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 218-237.
    12. Steven G. Craig & Edward C. Hoang & Dietrich Vollrath, 2015. "Household Response to Government Debt: Evidence from Life Insurance Holdings," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(5), pages 819-845, August.
    13. Eling, Martin & Ghavibazoo, Omid & Hanewald, Katja, 2021. "Willingness to take financial risks and insurance holdings: A European survey," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 95(C).

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