Household Savings in the Transition

Abstract

We explore household savings decision in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland during the transition from plan to market, finding four main results. First, except for the age profile, the effects of standard determinants on savings are comparable for transition and market economies. Second, we do not find support for a precautionary savings motive. Third, the evidence on consumption smoothing is mixed. Education of the head of the household, but not employment characteristics, are linked robustly to savings. Fourth, ownership of durables is negatively correlated with savings, consistent with the presence of anticipatory savings.

JEL Classification: D12, D31, D91, O16, P36