Rising Wealth, Rising Debt: The Effect of Liquidity Constraints on Consumption Smoothing

Abstract

Using permanent income life-cycle theory, I analyze the effects of liquidity constraints on the household’s ability to smooth life time consumption due to a change in housing and stock market wealth. Using data from the Canadian national accounts and chartered bank balance sheets I test if improved access to housing wealth due to fundamental shifts to the banking industry in the 1980s has lowered liquidity constraints and improved the household’s ability to smooth consumption.