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The Determinants of Household Risky Asset Holdings: Background Risk and Other Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Buly A Cardak

    (School of Economics, La Trobe University)

  • Roger K. Wilkins

    (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne)

Abstract

We study the portfolio allocation decisions of Australian households using the relatively new Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. We focus on household allocations to risky financial assets. Our empirical analysis considers a range of hypothesised determinants of these allocations. We find background risk factors posed by labour income uncertainty and health risk are important. Credit constraints and observed risk preferences play the expected role. A positive age gradient is identified for risky asset holdings and home-ownership is associated with greater risky asset holdings. A unifying theme for many of our empirical findings is the important role played by financial awareness and knowledge in determining risky asset holdings. Many non-stockholding households appear to lack the experience and financial literacy that might enable them to benefit from direct investment in stocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Buly A Cardak & Roger K. Wilkins, 2008. "The Determinants of Household Risky Asset Holdings: Background Risk and Other Factors," Working Papers 2008.01, School of Economics, La Trobe University.
    • Handle: RePEc:trb:wpaper:2008.01
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mervyn A. King & Jonathan I. Leape, 1987. "Asset Accumulation, Information, and the Life Cycle," NBER Working Papers 2392, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Stefan Hochguertel, 2003. "Precautionary motives and portfolio decisions," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(1), pages 61-77.
    3. John Y. Campbell, 2006. "Household Finance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1553-1604, August.
    4. Guiso, Luigi & Jappelli, Tullio & Terlizzese, Daniele, 1996. "Income Risk, Borrowing Constraints, and Portfolio Choice," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(1), pages 158-172, March.
    5. Sule Alan, 2006. "Precautionary wealth accumulation: evidence from Canadian microdata," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(4), pages 1105-1124, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Abdul Rahim, Husniyah & Md. Jusoh, Zuroni & Abdul Samad, M. Fazilah, 2012. "Predictors of Investment in Risky Assets among Malaysian Families," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 46(1), pages 27-37.
    3. Angrisani, Marco & Atella, Vincenzo & Brunetti, Marianna, 2018. "Public health insurance and household portfolio Choices: Unravelling financial “Side Effects” of Medicare," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 198-212.
    4. Yun Ye & Yongjian Pu & Ailun Xiong, 2022. "The impact of digital finance on household participation in risky financial markets: Evidence-based study from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(4), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Linh Thi My Nguyen & Phong Thanh Nguyen & Quynh Nguyen Nhu Tran & Thi Tuong Giang Trinh, 2021. "Why does subjective financial literacy hinder retirement saving? The mediating roles of risk tolerance and risk perception," Review of Behavioral Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(5), pages 627-645, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household Portfolios; Risky Asset Holdings; Background Risk; Credit Constraints; Financial Literacy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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