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Household Savings and Negative Interest Rates

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  • Klaas Staal

    (Karlstad University)

Abstract

This paper analyses determinants of household savings in a model based on an extension of the disequilibrium savings theory. These extensions follow from the life-cycle, permanent-income and Ricardian-equivalence theories. Based on panel data of 20 countries from the period 2000–2020, fixed-effect least squares estimation procedures are used. The analysis provides evidence that negative interest rates lead to a statistically and economic significant increase in savings. This implies that stimulating household consumption with a monetary policy of negative interest rates is counter-productive. The positive effect of income uncertainty and lagged saving rates gets smaller for negative interest rates, weakening the support for the disequilibrium-savings theory. Larger government deficits increase savings even more when rates are negative, strengthening the Ricardian equivalence effect. The effect of negative interest on the predictions of the life-cycle and permanent-income theories is mixed.

Suggested Citation

  • Klaas Staal, 2023. "Household Savings and Negative Interest Rates," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 29(1), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:iaecre:v:29:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11294-023-09870-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11294-023-09870-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household savings rate; Savings’ determinants; Negative interest rates; Panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration

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