Commitment and partial naïveté: Early withdrawal penalties on retirement accounts

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Mathematical Economics
Year: 2023
Volume: 106
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Andersen, Torben M. (not in RePEc) Bhattacharya, Joydeep (Iowa State University) Liu, Pan (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We analyze a portfolio allocation problem in a standard model of conflict within temporal selves who suffer from partial naïveté – the current self holds a deterministic but possibly wrong perception (underestimation) about the present bias of her future selves. The current self can invest in a liquid and a longer-maturity, illiquid asset; the latter offers partial commitment since the future self may prematurely liquidate it at a penalty rate. If the cost is prohibitive, no liquidation happens, and the first-best plan laid out by the current self is followed. When such costs are modest, raising them has countervailing income and substitution effects. Consequently, in a range, a strengthening of the commitment device of illiquidity is not necessarily welfare increasing for the current self.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:mateco:v:106:y:2023:i:c:s030440682300037x
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24