Precautionary Saving and Social Insurance

77 Pages Posted: 7 Nov 2011 Last revised: 8 May 2022

See all articles by R. Glenn Hubbard

R. Glenn Hubbard

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Finance; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Jonathan S. Skinner

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Stephen P. Zeldes

Columbia University - Columbia Business School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 1994

Abstract

Microdata studies of household saving often find a significant group in the population with virtually no wealth, raising concerns about heterogeneity in motives for saving. In particular, this heterogeneity has been interpreted as evidence against the life-cycle model of saving. This paper argues that a life-cycle model can replicate observed patterns in household wealth accumulation after accounting explicitly for precautionary saving and asset-based means- tested social insurance. We demonstrate theoretically that social insurance programs with means tests based on assets discourage saving by households with low expected lifetime income. In addition, we evaluate the model using a dynamic programming model with four state variables. Assuming common preference parameters across lifetime- income groups, we are able to replicate the empirical pattern that low-income households are more likely than high-income households to hold virtually no wealth. Low wealth accumulation can be explained as a utility-maximizing response to asset-based means-tested welfare programs.

Suggested Citation

Hubbard, Robert Glenn and Skinner, Jonathan S. and Zeldes, Stephen P., Precautionary Saving and Social Insurance (October 1994). NBER Working Paper No. w4884, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1955743

Robert Glenn Hubbard (Contact Author)

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Finance ( email )

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New York, NY 10027
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HOME PAGE: http://www.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/ghubbard

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Jonathan S. Skinner

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics ( email )

Hanover, NH 03755
United States
603-646-2535 (Phone)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
603-646-2535 (Phone)

Stephen P. Zeldes

Columbia University - Columbia Business School ( email )

665 West 130th Street
Kravis 548, Economics Division
New York, NY 10027
United States
212-854-2492 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://business.columbia.edu/szeldes

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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