Saving performance in individual development accounts: Does marital status matter?

Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Min Zhan, Michael Sherraden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Research indicates that marriage has a large effect on reducing the risk of poverty and is associated with a higher probability of attaining affluence over the life course when compared with nonmarriage. Using data from the American Dream Demonstration (N = 2,364), this study compares savings performances of married and unmarried low-income participants in a matched savings program - Individual Development Accounts. The results indicate that both married and unmarried low-income participants can save in Individual Development Accounts. After controlling for program and other participant characteristics, there were no significant differences in savings between married and unmarried participants. We further examined possible factors that are associated with Individual Development Account savings performance for these two groups.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-204
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Marriage and Family
Volume68
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2006

Keywords

  • Assets
  • Individual Development Accounts
  • Marital status
  • Poverty
  • Savings

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anthropology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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