Abstract
This study looks at how gender relates to a critical economic behavior—savings activity. We start with the proposition that
gender is not merely an additional variable to explain savings choices. Gender is the primary type of social categorization
in the U.S. today. Therefore, other variables will be differently relevant to savings depending on gender. We use a national
survey, the 2006 Economic Decision Making Survey conducted by Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and
Social Research, to examine the proposition. Basic frequencies reveal nonsignificant differences in savings participation
across gender, but regression analysis including interactions of gender with other key variables reveals that multiple aspects
of individuals’ lives are influenced by gender to predict savings plan participation.
gender is not merely an additional variable to explain savings choices. Gender is the primary type of social categorization
in the U.S. today. Therefore, other variables will be differently relevant to savings depending on gender. We use a national
survey, the 2006 Economic Decision Making Survey conducted by Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and
Social Research, to examine the proposition. Basic frequencies reveal nonsignificant differences in savings participation
across gender, but regression analysis including interactions of gender with other key variables reveals that multiple aspects
of individuals’ lives are influenced by gender to predict savings plan participation.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-012-9307-2
- Authors
- Elizabeth Ann Whitaker, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, Central Michigan University, 142 Anspach Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
- Janet L. Bokemeiner, Sociology Department, Michigan State University, 317 Berkey Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Scott Loveridge, Department of Agricultural, Food And Resource Economics, Michigan State University, 202 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476