Corresponding author: Saviour Lusaya
University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0.
Factors determining household savings in Zambia: A logit regression model from the
micro-economic perspective
Saviour Lusaya
1, *
and Namoonga Mulunda
2
1
University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
2
Information and Communications University Lusaka, Zambia.
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 13(01), 520–533
Publication history: Received on 04 December 2021; revised on 10 January 2022; accepted on 12 January 2022
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2022.13.1.0007
Abstract
Although not directly linked in time and space, the low savings in an economy will pose a huge challenge on the growth
prospect of the country as both private and public savings remain catalytic to economic growth. The classical and neo-
classical growth theories have placed emphasis on the critical role of savings in the economy and indeed the need for
high savings cannot be overemphasised. This study sought to examine microeconomic determinants of household
savings in Zambia using cross sectional data obtained from the Central Statistics Office 2015 Living Condition
Monitoring Survey comprising 12251 households. The study conducted an analysis of factors using a Logistic regression
model. The results of the study found that income and employment status of the households had a positive and
significant influence on the probability of a household to save. On the other hand, household size, age and region (living
in urban areas) negatively influenced household savings and was significant at all critical levels.
The marginal effects which measures the magnitude of the impact of the independent variable on the independent
variable was analyzed and it was found that for income ceteris paribus, a 1% increase in income was found to increase
the probability of a household to save by 0.01percentage point while an improvement in employment of household
heads increases the probability of a household to save by5.6 percentage point ceteris paribus. Furthermore, ceteris
paribus, an additional year of the household head age reduces the likelihood to save by 1.4 percentage point. On the
basis of household size, the study found that ceteris paribus, adding an extra person to a given household reduces the
likelihood of a household to save by 1.14 percentage point. For the region variable, the study used rural region as a
benchmark region to distinguish between urban and rural household propensity to save. It was found that households
that were located in urban areas were 9.8% less likely to save compared to households located in rural areas. Given the
findings above, it was concluded that low levels of savings in Zambia are attributed to; low household incomes,
overgrowing informal sector and overpopulated households. It was recommended that the government should increase
its funding towards economic empowerment to boost job creation which would enhance household income and reduce
over dependency of household members.
Keywords: Logit; Age; Income; Household Size; Region; Employment status; Savings
1. Introduction
In the midst of tough global conditions and domestic challenges faced by many other countries, Zambia has continued
to face slower growth rate since 2015 [1]. According to their analysis, raising revenue for economic recovery highlights
the numerous challenges being faced by the country which include among others; tight liquidity and limited efforts and
resolutions towards economic reforms that will promote and bring about economic diversification as means of
achieving a favourable balance of trade.