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Borrowing Constraints and their Implications for Social Security

Author

Listed:
  • Shantanu Bagchi

    (Department of Economics, Towson University)

Abstract

This paper uses a stylized overlapping-generations model to examine the effect of borrowing constraints on the economic implications of Social Security. In this framework, Social Security provides partial insurance against income risk that is uninsured due to incomplete markets. I find that when borrowing consistent with life cycle behavior is allowed in this framework, the micro- and macroeconomic effects of a downsizing in Social Security are considerably smaller than when borrowing is prohibited. I also find that the key mechanism behind this result is labor supply: with endogenous borrowing, households are able to exploit increasing labor productivity in early life to better self-insure against income risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Shantanu Bagchi, 2026. "Borrowing Constraints and their Implications for Social Security," Working Papers 2026-04, Towson University, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:tow:wpaper:2026-04
    as

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    File URL: http://webapps.towson.edu/cbe/economics/workingpapers/2026-04.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jonathan Heathcote & Kjetil Storesletten & Giovanni L. Violante, 2017. "Optimal Tax Progressivity: An Analytical Framework," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 132(4), pages 1693-1754.
    2. Shinichi Nishiyama & Kent Smetters, 2007. "Does Social Security Privatization Produce Efficiency Gains?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(4), pages 1677-1719.
    3. Shinichi Nishiyama & Kent Smetters, 2008. "The Optimal Design of Social Security Benefits," Working Papers wp197, University of Michigan, Michigan Retirement Research Center.
    4. Bullard, James & Feigenbaum, James, 2007. "A leisurely reading of the life-cycle consumption data," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(8), pages 2305-2320, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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