Increase in risk and saving behavior

Abstract

This paper extends the traditional unambiguous comparative statics analysis of an increase in risk into the case where individual's utility is a function of two goods rather than of a payoff only. Specifically, we use saving behavior to demonstrate the application of the extension. We find that a first-order stochastic dominance of rate of return causes a nonsatiable and risk-averse borrower to increase his borrowing. A mean-preserving second-order stochastic dominance of rate of return causes a borrower, who is risk-averse and prudent, to decrease his borrowing. Furthermore, we find that a stronger central risk dominance leads a nonsatiable and risk-averse lender to decrease his saving. Last, for the mean-preserving CDF shifts, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for all risk-averse lenders (respectively, borrowers) to decrease their saving (respectively, borrowing). ? 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.