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In 2019, the household savings rates in these selected developed countries ranged from *** percent of disposable income in Finland to **** percent in Switzerland. In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and lockdowns implemented by governments led to an increase in the savings rate worldwide, due to reduced consumption expenditure.

Why do people save?

Savings behavior differs from country, as shown in this statistic. In the United States, most people save for unexpected expenses or retirement. In countries such as Finland, the savings rate may be lower because retirees can rely on generous pension funds. Other reasons that households save include vacation, educational expenses, and home purchase.

Factors that affect saving

High inflation leads to lower household savings. The projected increase in prices means that people would rather buy immediately, because saving and buying later means paying a higher price. As such, countries with an inflation rate are less likely to have a high savings rate. Other factors include a cultural disposition towards saving mechanisms, such as the emphasis on home ownership seen in the United States.