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Do the Joneses make you financially vulnerable?

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Listed:
  • Barnett, Richard C.
  • Bhattacharya, Joydeep
  • Bunzel, Helle

Abstract

This paper studies a model economy populated with agents of differing incomes that get a utility boost when their consumption keeps up with their neighbors, the proverbial Joneses. The resulting utility function is non-concave. In this setup, participation in a fair consumption lottery has the potential to make some agents ex-ante better off but more financially vulnerable. More people of different incomes join the lottery pool when the ‘kick’ from keeping up increases. Worsening income inequality may increase the number of financially vulnerable people. The analysis offers broad-brushstroke insights into the connection between inequality and financial vulnerability.

Suggested Citation

  • Barnett, Richard C. & Bhattacharya, Joydeep & Bunzel, Helle, 2016. "Do the Joneses make you financially vulnerable?," ISU General Staff Papers 201612010800001836, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genstf:201612010800001836
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abel, Andrew B, 1990. "Asset Prices under Habit Formation and Catching Up with the Joneses," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 38-42, May.
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    4. Richard Barnett & Joydeep Bhattacharya & Helle Bunzel, 2010. "Choosing to keep up with the Joneses and income inequality," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 45(3), pages 469-496, December.
    5. Erzo F. P. Luttmer, 2005. "Neighbors as Negatives: Relative Earnings and Well-Being," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(3), pages 963-1002.
    6. Creedy, John, 1997. "Labour Supply and Social Welfare When Utility Depends on a Threshold Consumption Level," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 73(221), pages 159-168, June.
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    10. John Creedy, 1997. "Labour Supply and Social Welfare when Utility Depends on a Threshold Consumption Level," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 73(221), pages 159-168, June.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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