What Drives Private Saving around the World?
The authors investigate the policy and non-policy factors behind saving disparities, using a large panel data set and an encompassing approach including several relevant determinants of private saving. They extend the literature in several dimensio...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
Language: | English en_US |
Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2000/03/437920/drives-private-saving-around-world http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18854 |
Summary: | The authors investigate the policy and
non-policy factors behind saving disparities, using a large
panel data set and an encompassing approach including
several relevant determinants of private saving. They extend
the literature in several dimensions, by: 1) Using the
largest data set on aggregate saving assembled to date. 2)
Using panel instrumental variable techniques to correct for
endogeneity and heterogeneity. 3) Performing robustness
checks on changes in estimation procedures, data samples,
and model specification. Their main empirical findings: a)
Private saving rates show considerable inertia (are highly
serially correlated even after controlling for other
relevant factors). b) Private sector rates rise with the
level and growth rate of real per capita income. So policies
that spur development are in indirect but effective way to
raise private saving rates. c) Predictions of the life-cycle
hypothesis are supported in that dependency ratios generally
have a negative effect on private saving rates. d) The
precautionary motive for saving is supported by the finding
that inflation - conventionally taken as a summary measure
of macroeconomic volatility - has a positive impact on
private saving, holding other facts constant. e) Fiscal
policy is a moderately effective tool for raising national
saving. F) the direct effect of financial liberalization are
largely detrimental to private saving rates. Greater
availability of credit reduces the private saving rate;
financial depth and higher real interest rates do not
increase saving. |
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