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The Bequest Motive And Single People’S Demand For Life Annuities

Author

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  • CARLOS VIDAL-MELIA

    (UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA, SPAIN)

  • ANA LEJÁRRAGA-GARCÍA

    (UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA, SPAIN)

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to go deeper into the “annuity puzzle” by introducing the altruistic and strategic bequest motive and determining whether this really is a relevant factor affecting the theoretical decision to purchase life annuities. With this end in view we develop an optimization model based on that first put forward by Lejárraga et al. [2002], then add to it elements from other models such as Friedman and Warshawsky’s [1990] and Jousten’s [1998 & 2001] which include the bequest motive. We also analyse welfare by calculating the equivalent wealth in different contexts: the possibility of having access to an actuarially fair life annuity or programmed withdrawal market, the incorporation of so-called market imperfections, and the inclusion of the hypothesis that the individuals already have part of their wealth in pre-existing life annuities.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Vidal-Melia & Ana Lejárraga-García, 2004. "The Bequest Motive And Single People’S Demand For Life Annuities," Public Economics 0405005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwppe:0405005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capitalization; Pension Funds; Phased Withdrawal; Retirement; Utility.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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