A Theory of the Competitive Saving Motive

Qingyuan Du and Shang-Jin Wei

No 18911, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Motivated by recent empirical work, this paper formalizes a theory of competitive savings - an arms race in household savings for mating competition that is made more fierce by an increase in the male-to-female ratio in the pre-marital cohort. Relative to the empirical work, the theory can clarify a number of important questions: What determines the strength of the savings response by males (or households with a son)? Can women (or households with a daughter) dis-save? What are the conditions under which aggregate savings would go up in response to a higher sex ratio? This theory can potentially help to understand the savings patterns in China, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other economies that have experienced a dramatic increase in the pre-marital sex ratio.

JEL-codes: E2 F3 O16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-mac
Note: DEV IFM ME
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (37)

Published as Du, Qingyuan & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2013. "A theory of the competitive saving motive," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(2), pages 275-289.

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Journal Article: A theory of the competitive saving motive (2013)
Working Paper: A Theory of the Competitive Saving Motive (2013)
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