Written By: Lori L. Embrey and Jonathan J. Fox
Previous studies have suggested that women are more risk averse than men, leading women to choose more conservative investments. This study used a sample of one person households from the 1995 Survey of Consumer Finances to explore gender differences in the investment decision-making process. The determinants of some investment decisions were found to differ by gender, but gender did not appear to be a critical determinant of investment choice. Women were more likely to hold risky assets if expecting an inheritance, employed and holding higher net worth; while men invested in risky assets if they were risk seekers, divorced, older, and college educated. Key Words: Gender differences, Single-person households, Investment decisions, Risk aversion
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