The Origins of Savings Behavior

54 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2010 Last revised: 16 Nov 2013

See all articles by Henrik Cronqvist

Henrik Cronqvist

Chapman University - The George L. Argyros College of Business and Economics

Stephan Siegel

University of Washington - Michael G. Foster School of Business; CESifo

Date Written: November 7, 2013

Abstract

Analyzing a large sample of identical and fraternal twins matched with data on their savings behavior, we find that genetic differences explains about 33 percent of the variation in savings propensities across individuals. Each individual is born with a genetic predisposition to a specific savings behavior, an effect that is found not to disappear later in life. Parenting contributes to the variation in savings rates among younger individuals in our sample, but its effect has decayed significantly for middle-aged and older individuals. The family environment when growing up (e.g., parents' wealth) and an individual's own current socioeconomic status moderate genetic effects. Finally, we find that savings is genetically correlated with income growth, smoking, and obesity, suggesting that the genetic component of savings behavior reflects genetic differences across individuals with respect to time preferences or self-control. We discuss implications of these findings for public policy.

Keywords: Savings, Consumption, Behavioral Genetics

Suggested Citation

Cronqvist, Henrik and Siegel, Stephan, The Origins of Savings Behavior (November 7, 2013). AFA 2011 Denver Meetings Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1649790 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1649790

Henrik Cronqvist (Contact Author)

Chapman University - The George L. Argyros College of Business and Economics ( email )

1 University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
United States

Stephan Siegel

University of Washington - Michael G. Foster School of Business ( email )

Box 353200
Seattle, WA 98195-3200
United States

HOME PAGE: http://faculty.washington.edu/ss1110/

CESifo ( email )

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Munich, DE-81679
Germany

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