The result of all of these factors is that in 2004, 56.4% of households in the bottom fifth featured no work by anyone for the entire year, not even part time work, leaving the average number of workers per household in the bottom fifth rounded down to zero by the Census Bureau.

FORBES: The Equality Of Reaganomics

At 4%, the household savings rate has jumped sharply from its low of near zero, but it is still far below its post-war average of 7%.

ECONOMIST: The world economy

More remarkable than the amount of Japanese household financial assets is their structure: 60 percent are in essentially zero-yield bank deposits.

FORBES: Japanese Savers and the JGB Market