Difference Between Saving and Investment

Readers Question: what is difference between saving and investment?

Saving involves income that is not consumed. Typically surplus income is saved in a bank account. But, it could be saved as cash (cash under the bed e.t.c)

The Savings Ratio is the % of income that is saved. In recent years the UK and US have had low savings ratios as people have been encouraged to borrow and spend more. The credit crunch and impending recession is encouraging more to save.

Investment in Economics is defined as an addition to the capital stock. (Gross fixed capital formation) For example, investment can involve spending on factories or new capital. Investment can also involve spending on human capital such as investment in training and education.

Note: In everyday terminology people refer to investing money in a bank, however, this does is not investment in an economic sense. It is saving.