Attitudes towards income risk in the presence of quantity constraints.

Considering a consumer with standard preferences, I trace out the consequences for risk aversion and prudence of quantity constraints on markets. I first show how the effect can be decomposed into a price risk effect and an endogenously changing risk aversion/prudence effect. Next, I calibrate locally both effects on relative risk aversion and prudence, using estimates on household demand for durables and labour supply. Finally, I performa global numerical analysis of these effects. I conclude that quantity constraints have counter-intuitive and pronounced non-linear effects on risk attitudes.