The Effects of 401(K) Participation on the Wealth Distribution: An Instrumental Quantile Regression Analysis

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2004
Volume: 86
Issue: 3
Pages: 735-751

Authors (2)

Victor Chernozhukov (not in RePEc) Christian Hansen (University of Chicago)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We use instrumental quantile regression approach to examine the effects of 401(k) plans on wealth using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Using 401(k) eligibility as an instrument for 401(k) participation, we estimate the quantile treatment effects of participation in a 401(k) plan on several measures of wealth. The results show the effects of 401(k) participation on net financial assets are positive and significant over the entire range of the asset distribution, and that the increase in the low tail of the assets distribution appears to translate completely into an increase in wealth. However, there is significant evidence of substitution from other forms of wealth in the upper tail of the distribution. © 2004 President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:86:y:2004:i:3:p:735-751
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25