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Risky Asset Holdings during Covid-19 and Their Distributional Impact: Evidence from Germany

Referierte Aufsätze Web of Science

Lukas Menkhoff, Carsten Schröder

In: The Review of Income and Wealth 68 (2022), 2, . 497-517

Abstract

We present evidence from a repeated survey on risky asset holdings carried out on a representative sample of the German population six times between April and June 2020. Given the size of the Covid-19 shock, we find little evidence of portfolio rebalancing in April 2020. In May, however, individual investors started buying heavily, parallel to market recovery. The cross-section shows large differences as young, educated, high income, and risk tolerant investors are net buyers throughout and, thus, benefit from the stock market recovery. Older individuals, parents of young children, and individuals affected by adverse liquidity shocks from Covid-19 are net sellers. Given the high risk of illness, older people are hit by dual blows to both health and finances.

Lukas Menkhoff

Senior Research Associate in the Macroeconomics Department

Carsten Schröder

Board of Directors SOEP and Division Head Applied Panel Analysis in the German Socio-Economic Panel study Department

Topics: Distribution, Health

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