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Defined Contribution Pension Plans: Sticky or Discerning Money?

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  • Clemens Sialm

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Laura Starks

    (Stanford University)

  • Hanjiang Zhang

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Participants in defined contribution (DC) retirement plans rarely adjust their portfolio allocations, suggesting that their investment choices and consequent money flows are sticky and not discerning. Yet, the participants’ inertia could be offset by the DC plan sponsors, who adjust the plan’s investment options. We examine these countervailing influences on flows into U.S. mutual funds. We find that flows into funds that derive from DC assets are more volatile and exhibit more performance sensitivity than non-DC flows, primarily due to the adjustments of the investment options by the plan sponsors. Thus, DC retirement money is less sticky and more discerning.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemens Sialm & Laura Starks & Hanjiang Zhang, 2014. "Defined Contribution Pension Plans: Sticky or Discerning Money?," Discussion Papers 13-022, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:sip:dpaper:13-022
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    JEL classification:

    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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