The Life Insurance Deficit of American Families: A Pilot Study

To what extent do American families have a life insurance deficit, that is, fewer resources than desired to meet expressed family needs after death of wage earners? This pilot study indicates that perhaps 50 percent of families may suffer a serious life insurance deficit. Other families have life insurance surpluses. The deficit is affected by family net worth, educational objectives, age and number of children, age of household head and family income goals.