1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910455089303321

Autore

Wilcox Ronald T

Titolo

Whatever happened to thrift? [[electronic resource] ] : why Americans don't save and what to do about it / / Ronald T. Wilcox

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Haven, : Yale University Press, c2008

ISBN

1-282-08888-2

9786612088889

0-300-14532-2

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (176 p.)

Disciplina

332.60973

Soggetti

Saving and investment - United States

Finance, Personal - United States

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. [147]-154) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Do Americans save too little? -- Why Americans don't save enough -- The psychology of money -- Public policies that will increase savings -- A CEO's guide to increasing employee savings -- A household guide to saving.

Sommario/riassunto

It is no secret that Americans save very little: every economic index confirms as much. But to solve the real mystery, we must ask the questions, "Why?" "What are the effects on our economy?" and "What can be done about it?" In this thoroughly researched and thought-provoking book, Ronald T. Wilcox clearly describes not only how the "savings crisis" adversely influences personal lifestyles over the long term but also how it can undermine our national wealth and standard of living. Wilcox cogently explains that savings are essential to fuel our nation's economic growth, whether it's putting money in the bank or in the form of direct loans to the government as savings bonds, for example. And, he presents unambiguous facts showing that a high proportion of current wage earners simply will not have enough money for self-support during retirement-and that the government safety nets for income and health can no longer be counted on. Most important, Wilcox examines the many rational and irrational reasons behind



individuals' failures to put money away, what third parties such as corporations and government can do to help, and the steps people can take today to help themselves. The book is an attempt to reinvent thrift in the United States, to find practical ways to help people consume less and save more now so that we can be a richer people in the future and a more prosperous nation. It is a must-read for every corporate executive, policy maker, and concerned citizen.