Uninsured Idiosyncratic Risk and Aggregate Saving,

Authors

  • S. Rao Aiyagari Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/1057-0810(95)90020-9

Abstract

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the standard growth model modified to include p~caution~ saving motives and liquidity constr~nts is presented. The impact on the aggregate saving rate, the importance of asset trading to individuals, and the relative inequality of wealth and income distributions are addressed. Results suggest that the contribution of uninsured idiosyncratic risk to aggregate saving is quite modest, at least for moderate and empirically plausible values of risk aversion, variability, and persistence in earnings. However, for sufficiently high variabitity and persistence in earnings, theaggregate saving rate could be higher by as much as 7 to 14 percentage points. In addition, in contrast to representative agent models, it turns out that access to asset markets is quite important in enabling customers to smooth out earnings fluctuations. Quarterly Journal of Economics, August 1994, 109(3): 659-684. (Reprinted with permission of AEWInform, Copyright UMI.)

Published

1995-06-30

How to Cite

Aiyagari , S. R. (1995). Uninsured Idiosyncratic Risk and Aggregate Saving,. Financial Services Review: The Journal of Individual Financial Management, 4(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.1016/1057-0810(95)90020-9

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (1995): Financial Services Review

Section

Abstracts of Articles on Individual Financial Management

License

Copyright (c) 1995 JAI Press Inc.

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