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Racial/ethnic differences in holding a retirement saving motive: A decomposition analysis
Author(s) -
Kim Kyoung Tae,
Cho Soo Hyun,
DeVaney Sharon A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of consumer affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1745-6606
pISSN - 0022-0078
DOI - 10.1111/joca.12338
Subject(s) - ethnic group , demographic economics , psychological intervention , white (mutation) , economics , psychology , political science , biochemistry , chemistry , psychiatry , law , gene
Establishing a retirement goal facilitates one's long‐term financial planning behavior. Yet, the portion of U.S. households who achieve this goal is relatively small. Further, the percentage is much lower among racial and ethnic minorities. This study investigates racial/ethnic disparities in motives for holding a retirement savings and contributing factors to explain the gaps. Results from the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) indicate that White respondents were more likely to hold a retirement saving motive than were other racial/ethnic groups, even after controlling for various socio‐economic characteristics. Decomposition analysis shows that homeownership, objective financial knowledge, planning horizon, and age were the most important determinants that explain the racial/ethnic gap in withholding a retirement saving motive. This study provides evidence in support of the importance of tailored educational interventions among racial/ethnic groups.