| Article Information |
| Journal: |
Business and Economics Research Journal |
| Title of Article: |
Determinants of Household Savings from a Gender Perspective: A Cross-Country Analysis |
| Author(s): |
Habibe Günsel Doğrul |
| Volume: |
16 |
| Number: |
3 |
| Year: |
2025 |
| Page: |
261-280 |
| ISSN: |
2619-9491 |
| DOI Number: |
10.20409/berj.2025.467 |
|
| Abstract |
| This study examines the determinants of household savings in OECD countries from a gender inequality perspective, employing a panel data analysis covering the 2000-2022 period. Going beyond traditional economic determinants, the model incorporates structural and socio-demographic factors that influence women’s labor force participation and income levels. The relationship between household saving behavior and key indicators of gender inequality – such as the gender wage gap and disparities in higher education attainment – is analyzed in a multidimensional framework. The findings reveal that both the average age of women at childbirth and the youth dependency ratio significantly reduce household savings. Moreover, while increased gender equality in education appears to support higher savings rates, the economic empowerment of women may also lead to greater consumption tendencies, thereby generating conflicting effects on savings behavior. The analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic period indicates a notable increase in household savings, driven by both precautionary motives and reduced consumption opportunities. The study highlights that policies promoting gender equality are critically important not only from the perspective of social justice but also in terms of their broader macroeconomic implications. In particular, advancing equal access to education is proposed as a strategic lever for the development of sustainable household saving policies. |
| Keywords: |
Household Savings Rate, Determinants of Savings, Gender Inequality, OECD Countries |
|
| JEL Classification: |
D14, D15, G51, J16 |
|
