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Immigrant-native differences in stockholding: The role of cognitive and non-cognitive skills

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  • Luik, Marc-André
  • Steinhardt, Max Friedrich

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence on native-migrant differences in financial behavior by analyzing the role of noncognitive and cognitive skills. We make use of data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) which is a longitudinal household survey of the older U.S. population containing detailed information about demographic characteristics, financial assets and personality traits of household members. In line with previous studies, we find a substantial gap in stockholding between immigrant and native households. Estimates from a random effects model suggest that cognitive and non-cognitive skills, including personality concepts and economic preferences, are important drivers of stockholding and explain part of the differences between natives and immigrants. These findings are supported by results from a Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis. Our paper therefore delivers first evidence that differences in non-cognitive and cognitive skills contribute to the explanation of the financial market participation gap between natives and immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Luik, Marc-André & Steinhardt, Max Friedrich, 2015. "Immigrant-native differences in stockholding: The role of cognitive and non-cognitive skills," HWWI Research Papers 164, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:hwwirp:164
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    Cited by:

    1. Jones, A.M.; & Rice, N.; & Robone, S.;, 2018. "The effect of health shocks on financial risk preferences differs by personality traits," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 18/07, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
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    3. Andreas Hefti & Steve Heinke & Frédéric Schneider, 2016. "Mental capabilities, trading styles, and asset market bubbles: theory and experiment," ECON - Working Papers 234, Department of Economics - University of Zurich.
    4. David Albouy & Heepyung Cho & Mariya Shappo, 2021. "Immigration and the pursuit of amenities," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(1), pages 5-29, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Stockholding; Immigrants; Personality traits; Decomposition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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