Why are Saving Rates of Urban Households in China Rising?

Marcos Chamon () and Eswar Prasad

No 2008/145, IMF Working Papers from International Monetary Fund

Abstract: From 1995 to 2005, the average urban household saving rate in China rose by 7 percentage points, to ¼ of disposable income. We use household-level data to explain the postponing of consumption despite rapid income growth. Tracing cohorts over time indicates virtually no consumption smoothing over the life cycle. Saving rates have increased across all demographic groups, although the age-profile of savings has an unusual U-shaped pattern, with saving rates being the highest among the youngest and oldest households in recent years. These patterns are best explained by the rising private burden of expenditures on housing, education, and health care.

Keywords: WP; saving rate; household savings; age-saving profile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 49
Date: 2008-06-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (80)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Why Are Saving Rates of Urban Households in China Rising? (2010)
Working Paper: Why are Saving Rates of Urban Households in China Rising? (2008)
Working Paper: Why Are Saving Rates of Urban Households in China Rising? (2007)
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