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The role of household debt heterogeneity on consumption: Evidence from Japanese household data

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  • Jouchi Nakajima

Abstract

This paper estimates the impact of household debt on consumption behaviour using data from the Japanese Preference Parameters Study. Covering the 2005-13 period, the survey is the first of its kind for Japan. It features responses to forward-looking questions about key risks to income, shedding light on the motives for household savings behaviour. The analysis finds that household marginal propensities to consume (MPCs) were significantly higher for highly-indebted Japanese households than for those with little-to-no debt - a type of variation that is consistent with findings for other countries. The evidence points to a significant precautionary saving motive by Japanese households, with savers particularly concerned about (unlikely) future unemployment spells and longevity risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Jouchi Nakajima, 2018. "The role of household debt heterogeneity on consumption: Evidence from Japanese household data," BIS Working Papers 736, Bank for International Settlements.
    • Handle: RePEc:bis:biswps:736
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    Cited by:

    1. Sala, Hector & Trivín, Pedro, 2022. "Family Finances and Debt Overhang: Evolving Consumption Patterns of Spanish Households," IZA Discussion Papers 15222, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Kassouri, Yacouba & Alola, Andrew Adewale & Savaş, Savaş, 2021. "The dynamics of material consumption in phases of the economic cycle for selected emerging countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    3. Zhang, Dongyang & Guo, Rui, 2020. "The consumption response to household leverage in China: The role of investment at household level," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Mr. Fei Han & Ms. Emilia M Jurzyk & Wei Guo & Yun He & Ms. Nadia Rendak, 2019. "Assessing Macro-Financial Risks of Household Debt in China," IMF Working Papers 2019/258, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Yunchao, Cai & Abdullah Yusof, Selamah & Mohd Amin, Ruzita & Mohd Arshad, Mohd Nahar, 2020. "Household Debt and Household Spending Behavior: Evidence from Malaysia," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 54(1), pages 111-120.
    6. Sarah Chan, 2020. "China’s Rising Household Debt: A New Debt Trap?," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 4, pages 567-578, December.
    7. R. Basselier & G. Minne & G. Langenus, 2019. "Why has Belgian private consumption growth been so moderate in recent years?," Economic Review, National Bank of Belgium, issue i, pages 51-67, June.
    8. Maiko Koga & Kohei Matsumura, "undated". "Marginal Propensity to Consume and the Housing Choice," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 20-E-3, Bank of Japan.
    9. Deng, Xin & Yu, Mingzhe, 2021. "Does the marginal child increase household debt? – Evidence from the new fertility policy in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    household debt; marginal propensity to consume; precautionary saving motive;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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