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Survival Pessimism and the Demand for Annuities

Author

Listed:
  • Cormac O'Dea

    (Yale University, NBER and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • David Sturrock

    (University College London and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

The “annuity puzzle†refers to the fact that annuities are rarely purchased despite the longevity insurance they provide. Most explanations for this puzzle assume that individuals have accurate expectations about their future survival. We provide evidence that individuals misperceive their mortality risk and study the demand for annuities in a setting where annuities are priced by insurers on the basis of objectively-measured survival probabilities but in which individuals make purchasing decisions based on their own subjective survival probabilities. Subjective expectations have the capacity to explain significant rates of nonannuitization, yielding a quantitatively important explanation for the annuity puzzle.

Suggested Citation

  • Cormac O'Dea & David Sturrock, 2023. "Survival Pessimism and the Demand for Annuities," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 105(2), pages 442-457, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:105:y:2023:i:2:p:442-457
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01048
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    Cited by:

    1. Erdenesuren, Lkhagvaa, 2023. "Expectation, anticipation, and identification : Essays on subjective expectations and economic decision-making," Other publications TiSEM b9653e21-b96f-4bbe-8862-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    2. Vladimír Baláž, 2023. "Indulgence, Self-Control, and Annuity Preferences: Annuity Choices by Members of the Slovak-Funded Private Pension Pillar," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, March.

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