Pension fund investment policy, risk-taking, ageing and the life-cycle hypothesis

Jacob A. Bikker*, Dirk W.G.A. Broeders, David A. Hollanders, Eduard H.M. Ponds

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

This chapter examines the impact of participants’ age distribution on the asset allocation of Dutch pension funds, using a unique dataset of pension fund investment plans for 2007. Theory predicts a negative effect of age on (strategic) equity exposures. We observe that a one-year higher average age in active participants leads to a significant and robust reduction of the strategic equity exposure by around 0.5 percentage point. Larger pension funds show a stronger age-equity exposure effect. The average age of active participants influences investment behaviour more strongly than the average age of all participants, which is plausible as retirees no longer possess any human capital.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPension Fund Economics and Finance
Subtitle of host publicationEfficiency, Investments and Risk-Taking
EditorsJacob Bikker
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Chapter7
Pages141-162
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9781315621739
ISBN (Print)9781138656802
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Nov 2017

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