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Do individuals accept fluctuations in pension income?

Author

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  • Bucher-Koenen, Tabea
  • Knebel, Caroline
  • Weber, Martin

Abstract

How to invest and decumulate wealth during retirement has far-reaching consequences for consumption during retirement. We conduct an online experiment among 2,500 individuals representative of the adult German population. First, we investigate the choice between phased withdrawal plans with varying riskiness resulting in volatile retirement income. We find that 40% of the participants choose some risk and thus, accept fluctuations in retirement income. Second, we analyze the choice between the selected withdrawal plan and a lifelong annuity. Overall 56% of the respondents switch to the annuity. Switching behavior is more prevalent among individuals who chose the risk-free and medium-risk withdrawal plans as compared to the risky plan. Anchoring and fluctuation frames have small and significant effects on plan choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Knebel, Caroline & Weber, Martin, 2023. "Do individuals accept fluctuations in pension income?," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-019, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:23019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retirement planning; phased withdrawal plans; annuities; framing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G5 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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