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Prudence, risk aversion, and the demand for life insurance

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  • Joseph Eisenhauer
  • Martin Halek

Abstract

We estimate the effect of household wealth on the demand for life insurance using survey data from a broad cross-section of the USA. This procedure allows us to test the Pratt-Arrow hypothesis of decreasing absolute risk aversion (DARA). Additionally, we estimate the relative magnitude of prudence, the propensity to take precautions when faced with risk. We find that life insurance purchases increase with wealth, and that on average American households exhibit about 94 per cent as much prudence as risk aversion. On the basis of this evidence, we reject the DARA hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Eisenhauer & Martin Halek, 1999. "Prudence, risk aversion, and the demand for life insurance," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(4), pages 239-242.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:6:y:1999:i:4:p:239-242
    DOI: 10.1080/135048599353429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kimball, Miles S, 1990. "Precautionary Saving in the Small and in the Large," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 58(1), pages 53-73, January.
    2. Levy, Haim, 1994. "Absolute and Relative Risk Aversion: An Experimental Study," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 289-307, May.
    3. Kuehlwein, Michael, 1991. "A test for the presence of precautionary saving," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 471-475, December.
    4. Wolf, Charles & Pohlman, Larry, 1983. "The Recovery of Risk Preferences from Actual Choices," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 51(3), pages 843-850, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Edwin Wong, 2015. "Marital bargaining in the demand for life insurance: evidence from the Health and Retirement Study," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 243-268, June.
    2. Ivo Vlaev & Petko Kusev & Neil Stewart & Silvio Aldrovandi & Nick Chater, 2010. "Domain Effects and Financial Risk Attitudes," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(9), pages 1374-1386, September.
    3. David A. Love, 2010. "The Effects of Marital Status and Children on Savings and Portfolio Choice," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(1), pages 385-432, January.
    4. Martin Eling & Shailee Pradhan & Joan T Schmit, 2014. "The Determinants of Microinsurance Demand," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 39(2), pages 224-263, April.
    5. Kenneth A. Baerenklau, 2005. "Toward an Understanding of Technology Adoption: Risk, Learning, and Neighborhood Effects," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 81(1).
    6. Peter, Richard, 2021. "Prevention as a Giffen good," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Tang, Tao & Luo, Ronghua & Gu, Jing, 2023. "Lifetime asset allocation with long run risk and time various risk aversion," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 230-251.
    9. Oded Stark, 2019. "On Social Preferences and the Intensity of Risk Aversion," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 86(3), pages 807-826, September.
    10. Emily Norman Zietz, 2003. "An Examination of the Demand for Life Insurance," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 6(2), pages 159-191, September.
    11. repec:ebl:ecbull:v:4:y:2003:i:38:p:1-10 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Arthur Hau, 2008. "When Is a Coinsurance‐Type Insurance Policy Inferior or Even Giffen?," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 75(2), pages 343-364, June.
    13. Menhart, Michael & Rennhak, Carsten, 2006. "Drivers of the lifecycle: the example of the German insurance industry," Reutlingen Working Papers on Marketing & Management 2006-03, Reutlingen University, ESB Business School.
    14. Michael Menhart & Andreas Pyka & Bernd Ebersberger & Horst Hanusch, 2003. "Product Innovation and Population Dynamics in the German Insurance Market," Discussion Paper Series 240, Universitaet Augsburg, Institute for Economics.
    15. J. François Outreville, 2015. "The Relationship Between Relative Risk Aversion And The Level Of Education: A Survey And Implications For The Demand For Life Insurance," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 97-111, February.

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