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The Annuity Puzzle and an Outline of Its Solution

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  • Colin M. Ramsay
  • Victor I. Oguledo

Abstract

In his seminal 1965 paper, Yaari showed that, assuming actuarially fair annuity prices, uncertain lifetimes, and no bequest motives, utility-maximizing retirees should annuitize all of their wealth on retirement. Nevertheless, the markets for individual immediate life annuities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and several other developed countries have been small relative to other financial investment outlets competing for retirement savings. Researchers have found this situation puzzling, hence the so-called “annuity puzzle.” There are many possible explanations for the annuity puzzle, including “rational” explanations such as adverse selection, bequest motives, and incomplete markets; and “behaviorial” explanations, such as mental accounting, cumulative prospect theory, and mortality salience. We review the literature on the various plausible explanations given for the existence of the annuity puzzle, suggest ways of stimulating the demand for annuities, and suggest a few of the ingredients needed for further development of hybrid annuity products that may provide a solution to the puzzle.

Suggested Citation

  • Colin M. Ramsay & Victor I. Oguledo, 2018. "The Annuity Puzzle and an Outline of Its Solution," North American Actuarial Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(4), pages 623-645, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:uaajxx:v:22:y:2018:i:4:p:623-645
    DOI: 10.1080/10920277.2018.1470936
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    Cited by:

    1. An Chen & Thai Nguyen & Thorsten Sehner, 2022. "Unit-Linked Tontine: Utility-Based Design, Pricing and Performance," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Butt, Adam & Khemka, Gaurav & Warren, Geoffrey J., 2022. "Heterogeneity in optimal investment and drawdown strategies in retirement," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Griselda Deelstra & Pierre Devolder & Roberta Melis, 2021. "Optimal annuitisation in a deterministic financial environment," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 44(1), pages 161-175, June.
    4. Vladimír Baláž, 2023. "Household Economics, Information Sources and Annuity Choices: Annuitisation Preferences of Members of the Slovak Private Pension Pillar," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Benjamin Avanzi & Lewis de Felice, 2023. "Optimal Strategies for the Decumulation of Retirement Savings under Differing Appetites for Liquidity and Investment Risks," Papers 2312.14355, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2024.
    6. Atta Mills, Ebenezer Fiifi Emire & Anyomi, Siegfried Kafui, 2023. "Optimal lifetime income annuity without bequest: Single and annual premiums," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).

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