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Determinants of Japanese Household Saving Behavior in the Low-Interest Rate Environment

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  • Latsos Sophia

    (University of Leipzig, Grimmaische Straße 12, 04109 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Schnabl Gunther

    (University of Leipzig, Grimmaische Straße 12, 04109 Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

This paper scrutinizes the role of prolonged, expansionary monetary policy on the saving behavior of Japanese households, focusing on the dramatic change of the household savings rate since 1998, from high to low saving. The literature generally attributes this change to the country’s shift from high-growth to low-growth and its demographic change. This paper empirically examines changes in the incentives for saving and the ability to save connected to monetary policy. It finds that monetary policy had a significant impact on Japan’s household saving behavior via the interest rate channel but not the labor income channel. There is also evidence that rising government deficits come along with declining household saving and that rising wealth boosts saving.

Suggested Citation

  • Latsos Sophia & Schnabl Gunther, 2021. "Determinants of Japanese Household Saving Behavior in the Low-Interest Rate Environment," The Economists' Voice, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 81-99, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:evoice:v:18:y:2021:i:1:p:81-99:n:5
    DOI: 10.1515/ev-2021-0005
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Mayer & Gunther Schnabl, 2022. "Japan's Low Inflation Conundrum," CESifo Working Paper Series 9821, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    monetary policy; household saving; savings rate; Japan; financial repression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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