Asset building for and by young people

This article summarizes the four preceding articles on youth and saving, identifies policy and program implications, and suggests directions for future scholarship. It is clear that saving is difficult for many people and throughout the life course. Efforts to help young people accumulate assets might encourage saving by parents, encourage saving by youth, or provide subsidies. The latter strategy is most likely to reduce inequities associated with socioeconomic status. These strategies do not have to be pursued in isolation, and on-going conversations across disciplines and between scholars and practitioners could yield useful insight. In addition, research on existing asset-building initiatives that combine two or more of these strategies will provide important lessons for policy and program development.

► Saving is difficult for many people, throughout the life course. ► Strategies relying on individual saving likely maintain socioeconomic inequities. ► Policies that provide subsidies can help level the playing field. ► Policies and programs can provide subsidies and encourage saving. ► Cross-disciplinary collaboration is recommended.