Document Type
Discussion Paper
Publication Date
3-1-2015
CFDP Number
1996R
CFDP Revision Date
2018-06-01
CFDP Pages
60
Abstract
We investigate partial insurance and group risk sharing in extended family networks. Our approach is based on decomposing income shocks into group aggregate and idiosyncratic components, allowing us to measure the extent to which each component is insured. We apply our framework to extended family networks in the United States by exploiting the unique intergenerational structure of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. We find that over 60% of shocks to household income are potentially insurable within extended family networks. However, we find little evidence that the extended family provides insurance for such idiosyncratic shocks.
Recommended Citation
Attanasio, Orazio P.; Meghir, Costas; and Mommaerts, Corina, "Insurance in Extended Family Networks" (2015). Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers. 2429.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/cowles-discussion-paper-series/2429