Contiene: 1. Introduction to parts I and II: a review of empirical studies of household saving.- 2. The permanent income hypothesis: estimation and testing by instrumental variables.- 3. The effect of liquidity constraints on consumption: a cross-sectorial analysis.- 4. The permanent income hypothesis and consumption durability: analysis based on japanese panel data.- 5. Testing the life cycle-permanent income hypothesis on japanese monthly panel data.- 6. Test for liquidity: a critical survey and some new observations.- 7. Is the extended family altruistically linked? direct tests using micro data.- 8. Is the japanese extended family altruistically linked? a test based on engel curves.- 9. Risk sharing between and within families.- 10. Introduction to part III: a review of recent literature on japanese saving.- 11. Why is Japans saving rate so apparently high?.- 12. Life cycle and bequest savings: evidence from a large cross-section of japanese households.- 13. Housing finance imperfections and private saving: a simulation analysis.