Creating Creatures of Habit

Practitioners, policy makers, and researchers often assert the importance of individuals developing
savings behaviors. For the poor, especially, who may not have steady flows of income or access to
credit, savings is critical to smoothing consumption, providing an economic cushion in case of
emergencies, and building capital for productive investments. To begin savings habits at a young
age, however, would provide an extended period of time for children and youth to build a stock of
assets that could help finance their future economic needs as adults.