Discussion Paper
Informal Support Networks in the Survey of Consumer Finances
Abstract: Informal support networks, the interpersonal connections through which families provide or receive financial and practical assistance, constitute a critical but often invisible component of the U.S. economy. These networks can serve many of the same functions as wealth: shaping key economic decisions around saving, spending, and labor supply and providing an important buffer against adverse shocks (McGarry 2016; Bergeot et al., 2025).
https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.4195
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https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/informal-support-networks-in-the-survey-of-consumer-finances-20261009.html
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Bibliographic Information
Provider: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)
Part of Series: FEDS Notes
Publication Date: 2026-10-09
Number: 2026-10-09-6
Note: Authors acknowledge assistance from Jack Duncan.