In the United States, many employees can save for retirement by participating in Defined Contribution Plans (DCPs). We propose a tractable framework for calculating the employee’s subjective value of the participation option. The framework allows us to separate multiple benefits of...

In the United States, many employees can save for retirement by participating in Defined Contribution Plans (DCPs). We propose a tractable framework for calculating the employee’s subjective value of the participation option. The framework allows us to separate multiple benefits of...

We show that participants are influenced by their coworkers when they make equity investment decisions. Using a rich dataset of 401(k) plans, we find that individuals are likely to increase (decrease) their risky share when they have lower (higher) equity exposure than their coworkers in the...

We show that participants are influenced by their coworkers when they make equity investment decisions. Using a rich dataset of 401(k) plans, we find that individuals are likely to increase (decrease) their risky share when they have lower (higher) equity exposure than their coworkers in the...

Though millions of US workers have 401(k) plans, few studies evaluate participant investment performance. Using data on over 1,000 401(k) plans and their participants, we identify key portfolio investment inefficiencies and attribute them to offered investment menus versus individual portfolio...