But in China, where most savings are in the form of bank deposits and where earnings on savings are a significant portion of total household earnings, lowering deposit rates tends to increase the savings rate.

WSJ: China's Consumption Conundrum

But by 2010, the Goldman researchers predict, stocks and mutual funds will climb to 39% of household savings and insurance to 34%-while bank deposits drop to 18%.

FORBES: Schulte-Noelle Scores

Next to bank deposits, the largest category of household financial assets, at some 28 percent, remains basically savings-type life insurance and pension products.

FORBES: Japanese Savers and the JGB Market