John Y. Campbell
- 26 April 2016
- WORKING PAPER SERIES - No. 1897Details
- Abstract
- This lecture considers the case for consumer financial regulation in an environment where many households lack the knowledge to manage their financial affairs effectively. The lecture argues that financial ignorance is pervasive and unsurprising given the complexity of modern financial products, and that it contributes meaningfully to the evolution of wealth inequality. The lecture uses a stylized model to discuss the welfare economics of paternalistic intervention in financial markets, and discusses several specific examples including asset allocation in retirement savings, fees for unsecured short-term borrowing, and reverse mortgages.
- JEL Code
- D12 : Microeconomics→Household Behavior and Family Economics→Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
D18 : Microeconomics→Household Behavior and Family Economics→Consumer Protection
G28 : Financial Economics→Financial Institutions and Services→Government Policy and Regulation - Network
- Household Finance and Consumption Network (HFCN)