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Financial Risk-Taking under Health Risk

Author

Listed:
  • Björn Bos
  • Moritz A. Drupp
  • Jasper N. Meya
  • Martin F. Quaas

Abstract

We study how background health risk affects financial risk-taking. We elicit financial risk-taking behavior of a representative sample of more than 5,000 Germans in five panel waves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploiting variation in local infections across time and space, we find that an increase in infections affecting background health risk translates into higher levels of self-reported fear and decreases financial investments in a risky asset. Once vaccines become available as a self-insurance device, the tempering effect on investments ceases. Our results provide evidence that non-financial background risks affect financial risk-taking, and for the alleviating effect of self-insurance devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Björn Bos & Moritz A. Drupp & Jasper N. Meya & Martin F. Quaas, 2023. "Financial Risk-Taking under Health Risk," CESifo Working Paper Series 10387, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10387
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth

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