According to a survey data, the savings rate of Americans is-10%, and almost half of Americans can't even take out $400 in an emergency, which means that half of them spend only a few tens of dollars a month. This is a far cry from China people. Worldwide, China people's ability to save money is basically unmatched. When people in China are saving money, Americans basically buy it at buy buy. So, why is this?
Merchants stimulate buy buy to buy
In fact, this is not just an American problem. In neighboring Canada, about 20% of people save less than 65,438+0,000 Canadian dollars, while in developing countries like China, the per capita deposit has exceeded 40,000 RMB. This also reflects a typical phenomenon of modern economy. People in rich countries love to spend, while people in developing countries, especially Asian countries, love to save.
The reason is that the economic development of developed countries is generally driven by consumption. For example, personal consumption in the United States accounts for about 70% of the total economy. Therefore, for the sake of stable economic growth, the whole American society is changing tricks to promote consumption, so that most people are used to spending tomorrow's money to enjoy today. At present, Americans hold more than eight credit cards on average, and each credit card often provides various kinds of feedback and kickbacks. For example, some credit cards can get 150 cash back as long as they spend 500 dollars within three months after opening the card; Some credit cards are bound to Apple's mobile payment function, and each transaction can get up to 10% cashback. Under the temptation of this preferential treatment, a batch of lavish "card slaves" and "hand-chopping parties" have grown up.
Interestingly, as both developed countries, Germans are keen on saving. Although Germany's savings interest rate is falling, even negative interest rate appears, it still can't stop Germans from loving the good habit of saving money. But what I didn't expect was that the German hobby caused "public outrage" in other developed countries, and the United States accused Germany of exporting deflation. The EU accuses Germany of insufficient domestic consumption as the root cause of the European debt crisis. For a time, thrifty Germany became the target of public criticism. It can be seen that developed countries hardly encourage the good habit of saving money, but encourage everyone to spend it as they want.
Enough food and clothes, enough courage to go to buy buy to buy.
In China, old people need to save money to buy a house for their children, young people need to save money for their children's schooling, and middle-aged people need to save money for their own retirement. Saving some money silently every month has become a fine tradition of China people. In the final analysis, this idea came into being because the welfare system in China is not perfect enough. Without money, there is no guarantee for the future and no guarantee for life.
In America, there is no need to worry so much. If you become poor for personal reasons, there is also the government as a big backer. The United States sets a poverty line according to the price level every year, which is generally three times the cost of buying food. For example, 20 14, a family of two is less than $ 19662, and the standard for three people is less than $24,737. Until the standard of eight people is less than $50 1 12, the government issues hundreds of food stamps every month.
The concept of poverty in the United States may not be as poor as we think, and the poverty standard in the United States will be much higher than that in developing countries. A survey in 2005 showed that 46% poor families in the United States own their own houses, usually three bedrooms; Nearly 80% of poor Americans have air conditioning at home; Nearly 100% of the poor Americans own televisions; 75% of American poor families own cars; 30% of American poor families own two cars, and one third of American poor families own dishwashers.
So in the United States, even if you spend nothing, in the most embarrassing situation, with government relief, life will not be much worse. This also encourages the trend of early consumption.
Saving money doesn't have to be deposited in the bank.
In addition, China people's stereotype that Americans don't like saving money may stem from their different understanding of the concept of saving money. China people pursue stability and put money in the bank as a deposit, but in the United States, most people don't think so. Many of them think that if money can be generated, money is a deposit.
The financial market in the United States can be said to be the largest, largest and most influential financial market in the world, with extremely rich financial products, which provide many channels for Americans to invest. Americans also have a strong sense of investment, rather than a single investment channel like China. Many aunts can only hoard gold bars, and most families can only deposit money in the bank.
In 2006, about 48% of American families held mutual funds, with 96 million fund holders, and one in every three people was a mutual fund holder. The interest rate of these funds is higher than that of banks, and they will earn long-term income for their assets. In addition to the investment behavior of commercial funds, the United States began to implement the 40 1K plan from 198 1, stipulating that employees can choose their own investment portfolio to operate their pension accounts. Every employee can invest 15000 USD in the 40 1K plan every year and keep it as a pension. This part of the money is exempt from personal income tax, and the government will invest for you personally, and then return your pension to you when you are old. Part of the wages of the middle class in the United States will basically be paid directly to the endowment medical education fund such as 401k.
Besides, Americans will buy stocks. Americans often joke: "Americans are more enthusiastic about stocks than about NBA." In America, talking about the stock market is as common as talking about the weather in Britain. The population of the United States is 300 million, and there are more than 80 million stock market account holders, accounting for nearly 30% of the total population. The value of stocks has accounted for more than one-third of American family property. Due to the bull market in the United States, in March 2065438+2005, the Federal Reserve released a report saying that the net worth of American households rose to the highest level in history, reaching 55.6 trillion dollars. Stock trading has become an important way for Americans to make money.
In sharp contrast, banks. Americans can hardly see the interest of savings, and sometimes the bank interest rate is as low as 0.0 1%, which is completely negligible compared with the huge profits brought by investment and the generous card opening bonus and cashback of credit cards.
Moreover, because the inheritance tax is very high, with the highest tax rate of 55%, Americans have a strong sense of independence. Most people think that inheriting a huge inheritance will ruin their efforts, and there are not many good parents who save money for their children.
In a word, it is understandable for Americans to spend money lavishly, because they invest well, spend money with confidence, live a carefree life and don't have to consider "future generations"
This article comes from the seventh issue of the new theory of big science and technology encyclopedia 0 16. Readers are welcome to pay attention to the micro signal of our big technology: hdkj 1997.