Why do personal savings practices differ so much between countries? Voluntary personal savings (and the lack thereof) play a critical role in shaping individuals’ economic lives and sense of security, yet the political origins of their variation remain understudied. This discussion examines the 19th-century roots of variation in savings institutions in the U.S. and France, where policymakers and public thinkers viewed encouraging savings among the growing working class as a cost-effective means to alleviate poverty.
The Graduate Student Research Workshop is a seminar for graduate students at Harvard University and MIT to present their research to peers and faculty with an interest in European studies. This student-run, student-centered workshop welcomes presenters at any stage of their research from any social science discipline.
To join the seminar mailing list, please contact the seminar chairs. Papers will be distributed to participants via email in advance, and the schedule of upcoming workshops will be updated here throughout the academic year.
