This study investigates the effect of risk aversion of single-parent households with at least one child under 18 on life insurance ownership. Analyzing the 1992-2013 Survey of Consumer Finances datasets, we found that the likelihood of owning term life insurance decreases as risk aversion...

Economists conducting normative analyses of household financial decisions typically assume specific values of parameters of the household utility function. We review 12 normative analyses and discuss justifications for the personal discount rates assumed. None of the normative articles cited an...

To estimate the monetary value of ideal financial planning advice, we address three types of benefits that planners provide: increasing wealth, preventing loss, and smoothing consumption. We discuss, then reject the possibility of using survey data to obtain valid estimates of the benefit of...