This paper tests the life cycle hypothesis that private saving rises with a higher percentage of
working population and fall with higher percentages of the young and retired groups. Consistent
with this hypothesis, our results from annual data for fourteen emerging markets suggest
that age structure is a prime determinant of national saving. The results reveal a significant
positive (negative) relationship between the national saving ratio and the percentage of working
(children) population groups in the majority of the countries. The results are less conclusive
regarding the statistical relationship between national saving and the elderly population
group and several explanations for the apparent weak relationship are discussed.Cet article vérifie l’hypothèse du cycle de vie et des effets sur l’épargne. Les résultats
sur quatorze marchés émergents suggèrent que la structure de l’âge est le déterminant
principal de l’épargne nationale. Il y a aussi une relation positive (négative)
significative entre le taux d’épargne national et le pourcentage de population qui
travaille (les enfants) dans la plupart des pays. Les résultats sont moins clairs sur les
relations entre l’épargne nationale et le group le plus âgé; ce qui est interprété dans
l’article
