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The Spirit of Capitalism and Asset Pricing: an Empirical Investigation

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  • Qiang Zhang

    (Department of Economics, Fogelman College of Business & Economics, University of Memphis)

Abstract

We extend and test two models of aggregate asset pricing that feature status-seeking through accumulation of not only financial assets but also human capital. We use weak-identification robust tests to confront these models with U.S. data. Contrary to previous results, we find that the spirit of capitalism hypothesis, modeled as either direct preference for wealth or pursuit of relative wealth status, is rejected in the aggregate data. Therefore, adding status motive alone to an otherwise standard model may not be sufficient to resolve the equity premium puzzle.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiang Zhang, 2006. "The Spirit of Capitalism and Asset Pricing: an Empirical Investigation," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-428, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    • Handle: RePEc:tky:fseres:2006cf428
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Smoluk, H.J. & Voyer, John, 2014. "The spirit of capitalism among the income classes," Review of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 1-9.
    2. Kabderian Dreyer, Johannes & Sharma, Vivek & Smith, William, 2023. "Warm-glow investment and the underperformance of green stocks," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 546-570.
    3. H.J. Smoluk & John Voyer, 2014. "The spirit of capitalism among the income classes," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(1), pages 1-9, January.
    4. Yuanping Wang & Yingjie Niu & Siwen Gong, 2022. "Robust consumption policy with the desire for wealth accumulation," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 993-1025, September.
    5. Dreyer, Johannes K. & Schneider, Johannes & Smith, William T., 2013. "Saving-based asset-pricing," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3704-3715.

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