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The Response of Household Saving to the Large Shock of German Reunification

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  • Nicola Fuchs-Schundeln

Abstract

German reunification was a large, unexpected shock for East Germans. Exploiting German reunification as a natural experiment, I analyze the validity of the life-cycle consumption model. I derive three stylized features concerning the saving behavior of East versus West Germans after reunification: (i) East Germans have higher saving rates than West Germans; (ii) this East-West gap is increasing in age at reunification; and (iii) for every cohort, this gap is declining over time. I show that a comprehensive life-cycle model can replicate these features. The precautionary saving motive is essential for the success of the model. (JEL D14, D91, E21)

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Fuchs-Schundeln, 2008. "The Response of Household Saving to the Large Shock of German Reunification," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(5), pages 1798-1828, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:98:y:2008:i:5:p:1798-1828
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.98.5.1798
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    Cited by:

    1. Ghazala Azmat & Katja Maria Kaufmann, 2024. "Formation of College Plans: Expected Returns, Preferences, and Adjustment Process," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 22(2), pages 669-711.
    2. Nicoleta Ciurilă & Carolijn Kok & Harry ter Rele & Peter Zwaneveld, 2022. "Optimizing the Life-Cycle Path of Pension Premium Payments and the Pension Ambition in the Netherlands," De Economist, Springer, vol. 170(1), pages 69-105, February.
    3. Andreas Fagereng & Martin B. Holm & Gisle J. Natvik, 2021. "MPC Heterogeneity and Household Balance Sheets," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 13(4), pages 1-54, October.
    4. Giavazzi, Francesco & McMahon, Michael, 2008. "Policy Uncertainty and Precautionary Savings," CEPR Discussion Papers 6766, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Marcos D. Chamon & Eswar S. Prasad, 2010. "Why Are Saving Rates of Urban Households in China Rising?," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(1), pages 93-130, January.
    6. Christian Bayer & Falko Juessen, 2015. "Happiness and the Persistence of Income Shocks," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 160-187, October.
    7. Scott Fulford, 2010. "The effects of financial development in the short and long run," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 741, Boston College Department of Economics, revised 31 May 2011.
    8. Laudenbach, Christine & Malmendier, Ulrike & Niessen-Ruenzi, Alexandra, 2024. "The long-lasting effects of experiencing communism on attitudes towards financial markets," SAFE Working Paper Series 429, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    9. Chadi, Adrian & Hoffmann, Manuel, 2021. "Television, Health, and Happiness: A Natural Experiment in West Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 14721, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Christian Pfarr & Udo Schneider, 2011. "Anreizeffekte und Angebotsinduzierung im Rahmen der Riester‐Rente: Eine empirische Analyse geschlechts‐ und sozialisationsbedingter Unterschiede," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 12(1), pages 27-46, February.
    11. Harry ter Rele & Carolijn de Kok & Nicoleta Ciurila & Peter Zwaneveld, 2021. "Optimizing the life cycle path of pension premium payments and the pension ambition in the Netherlands," CPB Discussion Paper 421.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    12. Cristina Barceló & Ernesto Villanueva, 2010. "The response of household wealth to the risk of losing the job: evidence from differences in firing costs," Working Papers 1002, Banco de España.
    13. Kant, Chander, 2018. "Privatization and growth: natural experiment of European economies in transition," MPRA Paper 96080, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 28 Sep 2019.
    14. Eggenberger, Christian & Janssen, Simon & Backes-Gellner, Uschi, 2022. "The value of specific skills under shock: High risks and high returns," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    15. Xuan Liu & Zhiwei Cui, 2011. "Approximation Errors of Perturbation Methods in Solving a Class of Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Models," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 107-128, August.
    16. Armenter, Roc & Hnatkovska, Viktoria, 2017. "Taxes and capital structure: Understanding firms’ savings," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 13-33.
    17. Corneo, Giacomo & Keese, Matthias & Schröder, Carsten, 2010. "The Effect of Saving Subsidies on Household Saving – Evidence from Germanys," Ruhr Economic Papers 170, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    18. Bick, Alexander & Choi, Sekyu, 2013. "Revisiting the effect of household size on consumption over the life-cycle," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(12), pages 2998-3011.
    19. Corneo, Giacomo & Keese, Matthias & Schröder, Carsten, 2008. "Can governments boost voluntary retirement savings via tax incentives and subsidies? A German case study for low-income households," Economics Working Papers 2008-18, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Department of Economics.
    20. Scott Fulford, 2012. "The precaution of the rich and poor," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 814, Boston College Department of Economics.
    21. Gert G. Wagner, 2009. "The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) in the Nineties: An Example of Incremental Innovations in an Ongoing Longitudinal Study," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 257, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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