Saving behaviour and earnings uncertainty: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Population Economics
Year: 2001
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
Pages: 619-634

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

For the first time, this paper uses a panel data set, the British Household Panel Survey, to analyse saving behaviour in Britain. One objective is to test the precautionary saving hypothesis, according to which households save to self-insure against uncertainty. Our results show that in accordance with this hypothesis, various measures of uncertainty based on earnings variability have a statistically significant effect on households' saving decisions. Moreover, in accordance with the life cycle model, households save more if they expect their financial situation to deteriorate.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:spr:jopoec:v:14:y:2001:i:4:p:619-634
Journal Field
Growth
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25