Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/43262 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
CFS Working Paper No. 2008/56
Publisher: 
Goethe University Frankfurt, Center for Financial Studies (CFS), Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
We investigate, using the 2002 US Health and Retirement Study, the factors influencing individuals' insecurity and expectations about terrorism, and study the effects these last have on households' portfolio choices and spending patterns. We find that females, the religiously devout, those equipped with a better memory, the less educated, and those living close to where the events of September 2001 took place worry a lot about their safety. In addition, fear of terrorism discourages households from investing in stocks, mostly through the high levels of insecurity felt by females. Insecurity due to terrorism also makes single men less likely to own a business. Finally, we find evidence of expenditure shifting away from recreational activities that can potentially leave one exposed to a terrorist attack and towards goods that might help one cope with the consequences of terrorism materially (increased use of car and spending on the house) or psychologically (spending on personal care products by females in couples).
Subjects: 
Terrorism
Expectations
Household Finance
Demand Analysis
JEL: 
D12
D14
D74
D84
G11
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
360.12 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.