Aspects of "small savings"

Abstract

This study arose out of the writer's interest in a microeconomic consumer behaviour on the one hand and discussions of growth models based on macroeconomic tautologies on the other. The latter's prime interest in capital accumulation ("saving" in some sense) and the difficulties of relating accounting definitions, to microeconomic behavioural notions, of "saving" (and hence also of "consumption") formed the basis for the next chapter on THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK. "Small Savings" (Savings Bank balances) are chosen for examination as these are the best documented and least ambiguous "savings" series available. The third chapter, THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, considers some "savings" theories to determine how economic literature has viewed and used this term "savings". The fourth chapter, THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, examines the Savings Bank balance series and these institutions' operational terms of reference, as well as other financial series relevant to personal microeconomic "saving" (or "investment").