This book is an outstanding contribution to our knowledge base about the role of annuities in assisting households to finance their retirements. It's the first book I've seen to cover these topics.
Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Department of Economics, Boston University
I warmly welcome the publication of this book. The authors provide both a good descriptive view of the US private annuity system and a thorough analysis of the factors influencing the value individuals attach to annuity payout streams.
Alain Jousten, Department of Economics, Université de Liège
Well-written and thorough; this is high-quality research on an important public policy issue. The book collects the results of an impressive research agenda in one place.
William M. Gentry, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University
Life annuities can be extremely valuable and useful financial products. They can make retirement planning easier and more efficient. At the same time, they are not widely understood. The four authors of this book have produced the most authoritative and comprehensive examination of life annuities ever written. One can literally learn all there is to know about life annuities by reading this book. I recommend it to financial planners, academics, public policy makers, and anyone trying to understand theseimportant financial contracts. This book is a tour de force.
John B. Shoven, Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University