Ethnic Minorities Saving in the UK: A Life-Cycle Analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we apply the life-cycle framework to study saving accumulation and de-cumulation among ethnic minorities in the UK. Our findings reflect large variations between ethnic groups in terms of socio-economic characteristics and saving accumulation during the working life as well as in retirement, with gender, income and education as the most important factors in determining saving behaviours. The Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic groups in particular, show greater disadvantage in the workplace, which reflects negatively on their labour income and saving patterns. Although many ethnic minority groups show positive savings at the start of their working lives, the disadvantage experienced in employment has a profound effect on their ability to save for the long-term.