Conference Paper
Saving and interest rates in Japan: Why they have fallen and why they will remain low
Abstract: This paper quantifies the role of alternative shocks in accounting for the recent declines in Japanese saving rates and interest rates and provides some projections about their future course. We consider three distinct sources of variation in saving rates and real interest rates: changes in fertility rates, changes in survival rates, and changes in technology. The empirical relevance of these factors is explored using a computable dynamic OLG model. We find that the combined effects of demographics and slower total factor productivity growth successfully explain both the levels and the magnitudes of the declines in the saving rate and the after-tax real interest rate during the 1990s. Model simulations indicate that the Japanese savings puzzle is over.
Status: Published in Annual Pacific Basin Conference (2006: June 16-17)
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File(s): File format is application/pdf http://www.frbsf.org/economics/conferences/0606/joines.pdf
Bibliographic Information
Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Part of Series: Proceedings
Publication Date: 2006
Issue: Jun