Default, Framing and Spillover Effects: the Case of Lifecycle Funds in 401(K) Plans

33 Pages Posted: 30 Jun 2009 Last revised: 14 Apr 2023

See all articles by Olivia S. Mitchell

Olivia S. Mitchell

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School; University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School, Pension Research Council; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Gary R. Mottola

Research Director FINRA Foundation

Stephen P. Utkus

University of Pennsylvania; Center for Financial Markets and Policy, Georgetown University

Takeshi Yamaguchi

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 2009

Abstract

Important behavioral factors such as default and framing effects are increasingly being employed to optimize decision-making in a variety of settings, including individually-directed retirement plans. Yet such approaches may have unintended "spillover" effects, as we show with regard to the introduction of lifecycle funds in U.S. 401(k) plans. As anticipated, lifecycle funds do reshape individual portfolio choices through large default and framing effects. But unexpectedly, they also create a new class of investors which holds these funds as part of more complex portfolios. Our results are directly relevant to those interested in retirement plan design and retirement security; they also highlight the importance of assessing such spillover effects in other consequential settings where behavioral economics techniques may be employed.

Suggested Citation

Mitchell, Olivia S. and Mottola, Gary R. and Utkus, Stephen P. and Yamaguchi, Takeshi, Default, Framing and Spillover Effects: the Case of Lifecycle Funds in 401(K) Plans (June 2009). NBER Working Paper No. w15108, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1426459

Olivia S. Mitchell (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
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University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School, Pension Research Council ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Gary R. Mottola

Research Director FINRA Foundation ( email )

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Stephen P. Utkus

University of Pennsylvania ( email )

3641 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
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Center for Financial Markets and Policy, Georgetown University ( email )

Washington, DC 20057
United States

Takeshi Yamaguchi

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School ( email )

3641 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
United States

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