Abstract
In this paper, ambiguity aversion to uncertain survival probabilities is introduced in a life-cycle model with a bequest motive to study the optimal demand for annuities. Provided that annuities return is sufficiently large, and notably when it is fair, positive annuitization is known to be the optimal strategy of ambiguity neutral individuals. Conversely, we show that the demand for annuities decreases with ambiguity aversion and that there exists a finite degree of aversion above which the demand is non positive: the optimal strategy is then to either sell annuities short or to hold zero annuities if the former option is not available. To conclude, ambiguity aversion appears as a relevant candidate for explaining the annuity puzzle.
JEL codes
- D11: Consumer Economics: Theory
- D81: Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
- G11: Portfolio Choice • Investment Decisions
- G22: Insurance • Insurance Companies • Actuarial Studies
Replaces
Hippolyte D'Albis, and Emmanuel Thibault, “Ambiguous Life Expectancy and the Demand for Annuities”, TSE Working Paper, n. 12-323, July 2012.
Reference
Hippolyte D'Albis, and Emmanuel Thibault, “Ambiguous Life Expectancy and the Demand for Annuities”, Theory and Decision, vol. 85, n. 3-4, October 2018, pp. 303–319.
See also
Published in
Theory and Decision, vol. 85, n. 3-4, October 2018, pp. 303–319