This paper examines how aversion to risk and aversion to intertemporal substitution determine the strength of the precautionary saving motive in a two-period model with Selden/Kreps-Porteus preferences. For small risks, we derive a measure of the strength of the precautionary saving motive which generalizes the concept of “prudence” introduced by Kimball [12]. For large risks, we show that decr...

We solve and estimate a dynamic model that allows agents to optimally choose their labor hours and consumption and that allows for both human capital accumulation and savings. Estimation results and simulation exercises indicate that the intertemporal elasticity of substitution is much higher than the conventional estimates and the downward bias comes from the omission of the human capital accu...

This paper studies the dynamic optimization problem of a household when portfolio adjustment is costly. The analysis is motivated by the observation that on a monthly basis, less than 10% of stockholders typically adjust their portfolio of common stocks. We use this, and related observations, to estimate the parameters of household preferences and portfolio adjustment costs. We find significant...

This paper investigates whether leisure time definitions matter in the estimation of the intertemporal elasticity of substitution of consumption (IES) by using a utility specification that allows interaction between consumption and leisure time. We find that the IES estimated using a narrowly defined leisure measure that excludes quasi-leisure activities is larger than that estimated using nonm...

This paper shows that the CRRA specification of intertemporal preferences (implying a constant elasticity of intertemporal substitution, or EIS), imposes surprising limitations on within period budget allocations. Consequently, the constant EIS assumption can be tested with demand data. In fact, the parameter of the CRRA utility function is pinned down completely by the shape of Engel curves; i...

In this article, an analytical approximate solution method is given to provide investors with the means to make optimal consumption and portfolio choices with recursive utility in a complete market. The investment opportunity set is stochastic over time. The method is used to provide an exact determination of the unit elasticity of intertemporal substitution. An approximate solution method is d...

Arguments about the appropriate discount rate often start by assuming a Utilitarian social welfare function with isoelastic utility, in which the consumption discount rate is a function of the (constant) elasticity of marginal utility along with the (much discussed) utility discount rate. In this model, the elasticity of marginal utility simultaneously reflects preferences for intertemporal sub...