IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v73y2025ics1544612324016647.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Basic public service equalization and household risk investment behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Chang
  • Yao, Bo
  • Zhang, Chenjing

Abstract

Despite extensive research on household financial behavior in emerging economies, limited attention has been given to how public service equalization affects investment decisions, particularly in China's evolving socioeconomic landscape. Using China Family Panel Studies 2020 data and entropy method analysis, this study examines how public service equalization influences household risk investment behavior while considering the moderating effects of social security coverage and elderly burden. Findings reveal that improved public service equalization encourages household participation in risky investments, with social security coverage strengthening this relationship and the elderly burden weakening it. Regional analysis shows stronger effects in eastern regions, while agricultural hukou holders demonstrate increased responsiveness to public service improvements. These insights inform policymakers to promote household financial well-being and market participation across China's diverse economic regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Chang & Yao, Bo & Zhang, Chenjing, 2025. "Basic public service equalization and household risk investment behavior," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016647
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106635
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612324016647
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106635?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sylvie Démurger & Martin Fournier & Yang Weiyong, 2009. "Rural households decisions towards income diversification − Evidence from a township in northern China," Post-Print halshs-00957824, HAL.
    2. Cardak, Buly A. & Wilkins, Roger, 2009. "The determinants of household risky asset holdings: Australian evidence on background risk and other factors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 850-860, May.
    3. Becker, Gary S & Tomes, Nigel, 1976. "Child Endowments and the Quantity and Quality of Children," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 84(4), pages 143-162, August.
    4. Calvin Mudzingiri & John W. Muteba Mwamba & Jacobus Nicolaas Keyser, 2018. "Financial behavior, confidence, risk preferences and financial literacy of university students," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 1512366-151, January.
    5. Ren Mu & Yang Du, 2017. "Pension Coverage for Parents and Educational Investment in Children: Evidence from Urban China," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 31(2), pages 483-503.
    6. van Rooij, Maarten & Lusardi, Annamaria & Alessie, Rob, 2011. "Financial literacy and stock market participation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(2), pages 449-472, August.
    7. Jappelli, Tullio & Padula, Mario, 2015. "Investment in financial literacy, social security, and portfolio choice," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(4), pages 369-411, October.
    8. Cai, Fang & Wang, Dewen & Du, Yang, 2002. "Regional disparity and economic growth in China: The impact of labor market distortions," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(2-3), pages 197-212.
    9. Grace Xing Hu & Jiang Wang, 2022. "A Review of China's Financial Markets," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 465-507, November.
    10. Lee, Daeyong, 2018. "Effects of health insurance coverage on household financial portfolio: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 176-179.
    11. Zou, Jing & Deng, Xiaojun, 2019. "Financial literacy, housing value and household financial market participation: Evidence from urban China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 52-66.
    12. Zekun Li & Shenjing He & Shiliang Su & Guie Li & Fei Chen, 2020. "Public Services Equalization in Urbanizing China: Indicators, Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Implications on Regional Economic Disparities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 1-65, November.
    13. Giannetti, Mariassunta & Koskinen, Yrjö, 2010. "Investor Protection, Equity Returns, and Financial Globalization," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(1), pages 135-168, February.
    14. Gianluigi Guido & Cesare Amatulli & Andrea Sestino, 2020. "Elderly consumers and financial choices: A systematic review," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(3), pages 76-85, December.
    15. Markowitz, Harry M, 1991. "Foundations of Portfolio Theory," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 46(2), pages 469-477, June.
    16. Wenzhen Liu & Bin Wang & Chuanyu Wang & Kefei Han, 2023. "The effect of financial literacy on rural households insurance participation: evidence from farmers in southwest China," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 139-155, January.
    17. Yinan Yang & Qian Wang, 2018. "Insurance Inclusion, Time Preference And Stock Investment Of The Chinese Households," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 63(01), pages 27-44, March.
    18. Gu, Yao & Zhu, Xingui, 2024. "Homeownership and household risky asset holdings: Moderating role of social security and the mediating role of subjective well-being," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    19. Song, Yang & Wu, Weixing & Zhou, Guangsu, 2020. "Inequality of opportunity and household risky asset investment: Evidence from panel data in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    20. Chenyu Kang & Ridong Hu, 2022. "Age structure of the population and the choice of household financial assets," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 2889-2905, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Jingrong & Mi, Xinyu & Zhang, Chenlei & Qin, Yanran, 2024. "Social pension insurance and household risky asset investment: Evidence from China," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 219-233.
    2. Hsiao, Yu-Jen & Tsai, Wei-Che, 2018. "Financial literacy and participation in the derivatives markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 15-29.
    3. Congmin Peng & Po-Wen She & Ming-Kun Lin, 2022. "Financial Literacy and Portfolio Diversity in China," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 452-465, September.
    4. Si Shi & Yawen Jiang, 2022. "Does supplemental private health insurance incentivize household risky financial asset investment? Evidence from the China Household Financial Survey," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 369-421, December.
    5. Li Liao & Jing Jian Xiao & Weiqiang Zhang & Congyi Zhou, 2017. "Financial literacy and risky asset holdings: evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(5), pages 1383-1415, December.
    6. Ziyuan Lyu & Li Wei, 2021. "Information sources and participation in the Chinese insurance market: knowledge as a mediator," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 46(1), pages 79-106, January.
    7. Xu Cui & Jing Jian Xiao & Jingtao Yi, 2019. "Employment Type, Residential Status And Consumer Financial Capability: Evidence From China Household Finance Survey," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(01), pages 57-81, March.
    8. Lu, Xiaomeng & Guo, Jiaojiao & Gan, Li, 2020. "International comparison of household asset allocation: Micro-evidence from cross-country comparisons," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    9. Yinan Yang & Qian Wang, 2018. "Insurance Inclusion, Time Preference And Stock Investment Of The Chinese Households," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 63(01), pages 27-44, March.
    10. Wen, Chufu & Zhao, Xinyu & Xu, Longhao & Yin, Hua, 2023. "Military experience and household stock market participation: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    11. Gan, Hongwu & Guo, Mengmeng & Li, Jian & Niu, Geng & Zhou, Yang, 2025. "Air pollution and household stock market participation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    12. Áron Tóbiás, 2023. "Cognitive limits and preferences for information," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 46(1), pages 221-253, June.
    13. repec:upd:utmpwp:011 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. S. Ananda & Raghavendra Prasanna Kumar & Tamanna Dalwai, 2024. "Impact of financial literacy on savings behavior: the moderation role of risk aversion and financial confidence," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(3), pages 843-854, September.
    15. Oscar A. Stolper & Andreas Walter, 2017. "Financial literacy, financial advice, and financial behavior," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(5), pages 581-643, July.
    16. Béatrice BOULU-RESHEF & Alexis DIRER & Nicole VON WILCZUR, 2022. "Algorithmic vs. Human Portfolio Choice," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2966, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.
    17. Bose, Udichibarna & MacDonald, Ronald & Tsoukas, Serafeim, 2015. "Education and the local equity bias around the world," 2007 Annual Meeting, July 29-August 1, 2007, Portland, Oregon TN 2015-76, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    18. Yang, Jing & Shi, Jianxun & Xu, Ling, 2025. "Effect of digital finance on household financial asset allocation: a social psychology perspective," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    19. Li, Qize & Brounen, Dirk & Li, Jianjun & Wei, Xu, 2022. "Social interactions and Chinese households’ participation in the risky financial market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    20. Dong, Jingxuan, 2024. "Digital finance’s impact on household portfolio diversity: Evidence from Chinese households," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    21. Becker, Gideon & Dimpfl, Thomas, 2014. "Labor income risk and the reluctance of fouseholds to invest in risky financial assets: A panel data analysis," University of Tübingen Working Papers in Business and Economics 72, University of Tuebingen, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, School of Business and Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016647. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.