The continuing statements about the fall in the households’ propensity to save are not based on a deep analysis of the causes, and in particular the tax burden increase, low interest rates, lower protection offered to the workforce. An economic policy aimed to protect savings and to promote...

The affordability index of Italian households analyzes the factors influencing the households’ propensity to buy an house with a mortgage loan. In 2013, the index recorded a significant improvement returning to pre-crisis levels, due to the houses prices decrease and to the fall of interest...

In the area of financial education it is important to link training content to its function and receivers, and to realize a coherent and useful format.The topics of financial education have to be related to specific areas and situations and to welldefined needs. The trainers need to understand...

Italian savings is a necessary condition for economic growth and employment development and for this reason it deserves respect and appreciation. It must be supported both by the State and banks and financial intermediaries with initiatives aimed to improve communication, financial education and...

The presence of possible distortions caused by a prolonged period of low interest rates indicates that policymakers should raise interest rates as soon as macroeconomic conditions allow. Low interest rates are good for macroeconomic stability in the short run, but could harm long-run financial...

A sample of 1,087 Italian university students was surveyed to investigate their financial education and its determinants. Financial education of first-year and third-year business and non-business students was assessed using a 20-item test aimed at measuring both financial knowledge and...

Italian households are suffering the crisis and retail banks should carefully consider the new scenario in order to develop appropriate strategies and customer relationships management techniques. A new Financial Vulnerability Index, based on different stress profiles and on the analysis of...

The crisis has produced its effects on households incomes and on their savings behaviour.The reduction in disposable income and savings is the cost that households pay to compensate delays in the adjustment of public finances and to support businesses investments. A detailed analysis on the...

In 2011, Italian businesses and households have faced the Sovereign debt crisis, but savings confirmed its resilience. Since the beginning of the crisis, Italian households’ propensity to save has fallen nearly 1.8 percentage points, although Italy continues to rank above most other...

Despite the decline during the crisis, Italian households savings rate is in line with major European countries and higher than Us and Uk. Conservative portfolios allowed, during the crisis, to contain volatility and to protect wealth, but they are not an optimal choice for recovery. It is...