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Reprint of: Assessing the effects of unconventional monetary policy and low interest rates on pension fund risk incentives

Author

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  • Boubaker, Sabri
  • Gounopoulos, Dimitrios
  • Nguyen, Duc Khuong
  • Paltalidis, Nikos

Abstract

This study quantifies the effects of persistently low interest rates near to the zero lower bound and unconventional monetary policy on pension fund risk incentives in the United States. Using two structural vector autoregressive (VAR) models and a counterfactual scenario analysis, the results show that monetary policy shocks, as identified by changes in Treasury yields following changes in the central bank's target interest rates, lead to a substantial increase in pension funds’ allocation to equity assets. Notably, the shift from bonds to equity securities is greater during the period where the US Federal Reserve launched unconventional monetary policy measures. Additional findings show a positive correlation between pension fund risk-taking, low interest rates and the decline in Treasury yields across both well-funded and underfunded public pension plans, which is thus consistent with a structural risk-shifting incentive.

Suggested Citation

  • Boubaker, Sabri & Gounopoulos, Dimitrios & Nguyen, Duc Khuong & Paltalidis, Nikos, 2018. "Reprint of: Assessing the effects of unconventional monetary policy and low interest rates on pension fund risk incentives," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 340-357.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:92:y:2018:i:c:p:340-357
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2018.03.003
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kenechukwu E. Anadu & James Bohn & Lina Lu & Matthew Pritsker & Andrei Zlate, 2019. "Reach for Yield by U.S. Public Pension Funds," Supervisory Research and Analysis Working Papers RPA 19-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    2. Hohberger, Stefan & Priftis, Romanos & Vogel, Lukas, 2020. "The distributional effects of conventional monetary policy and quantitative easing: Evidence from an estimated DSGE model," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    3. Nguyen, Duc Khuong & Topaloglou, Nikolas & Walther, Thomas, 2020. "Asset Classes and Portfolio Diversification: Evidence from a Stochastic Spanning Approach," MPRA Paper 103870, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Nguyen, Hoai Thi Thanh & Tram, Huong Thi Xuan & Nguyen, Linh Thi Thuy, 2023. "Interest rates and systemic risk:Evidence from the Vietnamese economy," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pension funds; Unconventional monetary policy; Asset allocation; Interest rates;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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