Reinforcement Learning and Savings Behavior

James Choi, David Laibson, Brigitte Madrian and Andrew Metrick

Journal of Finance, 2009, vol. 64, issue 6, 2515-2534

Abstract: We show that individual investors over‐extrapolate from their personal experience when making savings decisions. Investors who experience particularly rewarding outcomes from 401(k) saving—a high average and/or low variance return—increase their 401(k) savings rate more than investors who have less rewarding experiences. This finding is not driven by aggregate time‐series shocks, income effects, rational learning about investing skill, investor fixed effects, or time‐varying investor‐level heterogeneity that is correlated with portfolio allocations to stock, bond, and cash asset classes. We discuss implications for the equity premium puzzle and interventions aimed at improving household financial outcomes.

Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (113)

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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2009.01509.x

Related works:
Working Paper: Reinforcement Learning and Savings Behavior (2009)
Working Paper: Reinforcement Learning and Savings Behavior (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:64:y:2009:i:6:p:2515-2534

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