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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Economics

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Series

2001

Diversification

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Social Security Investment In Equities I: Linear Case, Peter A. Diamond, John Geanakoplos Jul 2001

Social Security Investment In Equities I: Linear Case, Peter A. Diamond, John Geanakoplos

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper explores the general equilibrium impact of social security portfolio diversification into private securities, either through the trust fund or private accounts. The analysis depends critically on heterogeneities in saving, production, assets, and taxes. Limited diversification weakly increases interest rates, reduces the expected return on short-term investment (and the equity premium), decreases safe investment, increases risky investment and increases a suitably weighted social welfare function. However, the effects on aggregate investment, long-term capital values, and the utility of young savers hinges on assumptions about technology. Aggregate investment and long-term asset values can move in opposite directions.


Social Security Investment In Equities, Peter A. Diamond, John Geanakoplos Jul 2001

Social Security Investment In Equities, Peter A. Diamond, John Geanakoplos

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper explores the general equilibrium impact of social security portfolio diversification into private securities, either through the trust fund or private accounts. The analysis depends critically on heterogeneities in saving, production, assets, and taxes. Limited diversification weakly increases interest rates, reduces the expected return on short-term investment (and the equity premium), decreases safe investment, increases risky investment and increases a suitably weighted social welfare function. However, the effects on aggregate investment, long-term capital values, and the utility of young savers hinges on assumptions about technology. Aggregate investment and long-term asset values can move in opposite directions.