Do Self-Control Measures Affect Saving Behavior?
Kim, G. J. & Hanna, S. D. (2017). Do self-control measures affect saving behavior? Journal of Personal Finance, Forthcoming
20 Pages Posted: 17 Jul 2017
Date Written: July 10, 2017
Abstract
We examine the effects of self-control mechanisms on saving behavior using the 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), following the assumptions of research that analyzed the 1998 SCF. Self-control mechanisms include saving goals, foreseeable expenses, and saving rules. We find a positive effect of having one or more saving rules on the likelihood of saving, and weak effects of having retirement as a saving goal and of having children/family as a saving goal on saving However, it is not clear that the measures of self-control reported in previous research really provide useful ways to increase the likelihood of saving. We discuss implications for financial planning advice.
Keywords: behavioral life cycle hypothesis, saving behavior, saving goals, saving rules, self-control, Survey of Consumer Finances
JEL Classification: D03, D14, D91
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
