Optimal Financial Knowledge and Wealth Inequality

Annamaria Lusardi (), Pierre-Carl Michaud and Olivia Mitchell

No 18669, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: While financial knowledge is strongly positively related to household wealth, there is also considerable cross-sectional variation in both financial knowledge and net asset levels. To explore these patterns, we develop a calibrated stochastic life cycle model featuring endogenous financial knowledge accumulation. The model generates substantial wealth inequality, over and above that of standard life cycle models; this is because higher earners typically have more hump-shaped labor income profiles and lower retirement benefits which, when interacted with precautionary saving motives, boost their need for private wealth accumulation and thus financial knowledge. Our simulations show that endogenous financial knowledge accumulation has the potential to account for a large proportion of wealth inequality. The fraction of the population which is rationally financially "ignorant" depends on the generosity of the retirement system and the level of means-tested benefits. Educational efforts to enhance financial savvy early in the life cycle so as to produce one percentage point excess return per year would be valued highly by people in all educational groups.

JEL-codes: D01 D1 D31 D83 D91 E21 G11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age, nep-dge and nep-knm
Note: AG EFG PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

Published as Annamaria Lusardi & Pierre-Carl Michaud & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2017. "Optimal Financial Knowledge and Wealth Inequality," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 125(2), pages 431-477.

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Journal Article: Optimal Financial Knowledge and Wealth Inequality (2017)
Working Paper: Optimal Financial Knowledge and Wealth Inequality (2013)
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