IDIOSYNCRATIC RISK, AGGREGATE RISK, AND THE WELFARE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL SECURITY

B-Tier
Journal: International Economic Review
Year: 2019
Volume: 60
Issue: 2
Pages: 661-692

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

We ask whether a pay‐as‐you‐go financed social security system is welfare improving in an economy with idiosyncratic and aggregate risk. We show that the whole welfare benefit from insurance against both risks is greater than the sum of benefits from insurance against the isolated risks. One reason is the convexity of the welfare gain. The other reason is a direct risk interaction amplifying the utility losses from risk. Our quantitative evaluation shows that introducing a minimum pension leads to sizeable welfare gains, despite substantial crowding out. About 60% of these gains would be missing from summing up the isolated benefits.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:iecrev:v:60:y:2019:i:2:p:661-692
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25