What Drives Investors' Portfolio Choices? Separating Risk Preferences from Frictions

Taha Choukhmane and Tim de Silva

No 32476, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We study the role of risk preferences and frictions in portfolio choice using variation in 401(k) default options. Patterns of active choice in response to different default funds imply that, absent participation frictions, 94% of investors prefer holding stocks, with an equity share of retirement wealth declining with age—patterns markedly different from observed allocations. We use this quasi-experiment to estimate a life cycle model and find a relative risk aversion of 2.5, EIS of 0.25, and $160 portfolio adjustment cost. Our results suggest that low levels of stock market participation in retirement accounts are due to participation frictions rather than non-standard preferences such as loss-aversion.

JEL-codes: D14 D15 G0 G11 G40 G5 G51 J32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-fmk, nep-rmg and nep-upt
Note: AG AP CF
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