The determinants of private saving in India

This paper examines the determinants of private saving in the process of economic development, in the light of the Indian experience. It is found that the saving rate rises with both the level and the rate of growth of disposable income. The real interest rate on bank deposits has a significant positive impact, but the magnitude of the impact is modest. Public saving seems to crowd out private saving, but less than proportionately. Furthermore, the spread of banking facilities in the economy and the inflation rate have a positive impact and changes in the external terms of trade a negative impact on private saving. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.