Stock Market Investment: The Role of Human Capital
FEDS Working Paper No. 2015-065
http://dx.doi.org/10.17016/FEDS.2015.065
46 Pages Posted: 26 Aug 2015
There are 3 versions of this paper
Stock Market Investment: The Role of Human Capital
Stock Market Investment: The Role of Human Capital
Date Written: June 14, 2015
Abstract
Portfolio choice models counter factually predict (or advise) almost universal equity market participation and a high share for equity in wealth early in life. Empirically consistent predictions have proved elusive without participation costs, informational frictions, or nonstandard preferences. We demonstrate that once human capital investment is allowed, standard theory predicts portfolio choices much closer to those empirically observed. Two intuitive mechanisms are at work: For participation, human capital returns exceed financial asset returns for most young households and, as households age, this is reversed. For shares, risks to human capital limit the household’s desire to hold wealth in risky financial equity.
Keywords: Financial Portfolios, Human Capital Investment, Life-cycle
JEL Classification: E21, G11, J24
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation