An empirical study of pattern of savings on status of employment of households in Blantyre City in Malawi

Abstract

While many studies have dwelt on demographics, age, education, gender as determinants of saving pattern for households, this study takes a slightly different angle by focusing on pattern of savings vis vis status of employment of households. Given that households have different propensity to consume and to save, the aim of the research is to examine if there is any dichotomy in savings pattern of households based on employment status. Specifically, this study focuses on the pattern of employed, self-employed, part time, students, and retired households in the city of Blantyre. With a sample size of 367 identified through a convenient sampling, the researcher administered a questionnaire with a view to obtaining data on savings of participants who were employed, self-employed, part time, students and retired households in the study area. The analysis was carried out using univariate and bivariate statistical analysis. Specifically, SSSP was used to perform ANOVA tests. The analysis revealed a remarkable difference in saving pattern of households of different employment status, in the study area.

Keywords: savings, investment, employment, household