This study explored saving behavior among low-income households through the institutional theory of saving behavior by (1) determining asset differences between saving and non-saving households, (2) exploring factors related to saving behavior, and (3) identifying differences between two saving...

1. This research examines the potential impact of the stock market crash of 2008-2009 on U.S. working households. The Great Recession caused financial problems for many households in terms of unemployment, business losses, and decreases in real estate values, but the broadly based decreases in...

We extend previous studies of retirement adequacy by testing the effect of financial sophistication on projected retirement adequacy. In an analysis of the 2010 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) dataset, we found that only 42% of households are adequately prepared for retirement compared to 58%...

Empirical studies have found that most households do not have recommended levels of emergency funds. A three-period model of optimal consumption is presented. The theoretical model suggests that many consumers without recommended levels of liquid assets may be acting rationally. The model is...

We examine household saving in the context of a prescriptive model. Using Survey of Consumer Finances data sets in the 1995-2004 period, 57% of households reported spending less than income. Many effects in the multivariate analysis are consistent with a prescriptive model. We discuss other...

Results from the Eurosystem Household Finance and Consumption Survey reveal substantial variation in household net wealth across euro area countries that await explanation. This paper focuses on three main factors for the wealth accumulation process, i) homeownership, ii) housing value...

Results from the Eurosystem Household Finance and Consumption Survey reveal substantial variation in household net wealth across euro area countries that await explanation. This paper focuses on three main factors for the wealth accumulation process, i) homeownership, ii) housing value...

We study the role of household saving behaviour, of individual motives for saving and that of perceived liquidity constraints in 15 Euro Area countries. The empirical analysis is based on the Household Finance and Consumption Survey, a new harmonized data set collecting detailed information on...

Normative analyses of household financial decisions typically assume parameters of the household utility function. Some general issues on parameter assumptions for normative analysis are discussed in this study. We review selected normative household analyses appearing in finance and economics...

This research sought to further understanding of factors related to low-income household saving behavior. Saving behavior, defined as whether a household spent less than income, was analyzed by applying institutional theory, which proposes that households' institutional environment has a...