A growing literature examines household finance and especially the borrowing and savings decisions of households. 5 Using evidence from the FinMark Trust (FinScope) surveys in 2009 in Kenya, one study shows that savings and credit services are used mostly for family-related purposes and less for business-related purposes. 6 This finding is consistent with another study showing that about half the volume of borrowing by poor households is for nonbusiness purposes, including consumption. 7 Still another study, conducting field experiments in Kenya, finds that people with access to savings accounts or simple informal savings technolo- gies are more likely to increase productivity and income, increase.
