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Subjective Life Expectancies, Time Preference Heterogeneity, and Wealth Inequality

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  • Richard Foltyn
  • Jonna Olsson

Abstract

This paper explores how heterogeneity in life expectancy, objective (statistical) as well as subjective, affects savings behavior between healthy and unhealthy people. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we show that people in poor health not only have shorter actual lifespan, but are also more pessimistic about their remaining time of life. Using a standard overlapping-generations model, we show that differences in life expectancy can explain one third of the differences in accumulated wealth with an important part driven by pessimism among unhealthy people.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Foltyn & Jonna Olsson, 2021. "Subjective Life Expectancies, Time Preference Heterogeneity, and Wealth Inequality," Working Papers 2021_13, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    • Handle: RePEc:gla:glaewp:2021_13
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    2. Yan Wu & Changsheng Xu & Ming Yi, 2022. "The Optimal Choice of Delayed Retirement Policy in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Life expectancy; preference heterogeneity; subjective beliefs; life cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality

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