Heterogeneity and risk sharing in village economies

Pierre Chiappori, Krislert Samphantharak, Sam Schulhofer‐Wohl and Robert M. Townsend
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Sam Schulhofer-Wohl

Quantitative Economics, 2014, vol. 5, 1-27

Abstract: We show how to use panel data on household consumption to directly estimate households' risk preferences. Specifically, we measure heterogeneity in risk aversion among households in Thai villages using a full risk‐sharing model, which we then test allowing for this heterogeneity. There is substantial, statistically significant heterogeneity in estimated risk preferences. Full insurance cannot be rejected. As the risk‐sharing as‐if‐complete‐markets theory might predict, estimated risk preferences are unrelated to wealth or other characteristics. The heterogeneity matters for policy: Although the average household would benefit from eliminating village‐level risk, less‐risk‐averse households that are paid to absorb that risk would be worse off by several percent of household consumption.

Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (57)

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http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/quan.2014.5.issue-1.x

Related works:
Working Paper: Heterogeneity and risk sharking in village economies (2013)
Working Paper: Heterogeneity and risk sharing in village economies (2011)
Working Paper: Heterogeneity and Risk Sharing in Village Economies (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:quante:v:5:y:2014:i::p:1-27

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