Europe uses savings as the main "weapon" - Deposits in the Eurozone reach 8.4 trillion euros
10:03 - 28/03/2024

The governments of the member countries of the European Union estimate that family wealth invested either in local stocks or bonds can close the growing and productivity gap with the US and China, according to a Reuters poll. In France, the creation of a pan-European savings vehicle has become a major topic of public debate, while in Britain the Sunak government offers tax exemptions to all those who invest their funds in shares of British companies.
However, there are also voices that point out the weaknesses of this project. One of their arguments is that such schemes risk disappointing savers. In addition, they consider that they do not correct the entrenched weaknesses of the European economic model, which they believe hinder investment.
Europeans have more capital in savings than Americans, and the gap has widened as they feel more insecure after the war in Ukraine. Savings in the eurozone reach 8.4 trillion euros. The Minister of Finance of France, Bruno Le Maire, described it as money that "sleeps" and does not contribute to prosperity and proposed the design of a pan-European savings product. At the same time, there is a proposal by French lawmakers to channel savings to domestic defense companies through state-guaranteed deposits.
The banking sector is a point of concern, as deposits are a vital source of funding for credit institutions and therefore a number of economists are against the idea.
European companies for a decade have placed financing very low on their list of problems, according to data from the European Commission and the European Central Bank, and its benefit can finance their investments.
Some governments themselves borrow directly from citizens. Italy's private bonds have raised 53.7 billion euros since June. While Britain announced new savings bonds following the example of Belgium and Greece. The main advantage of private investors with lower capital – retail investors – is that they are less volatile than professionals and are more likely to hold bonds to maturity because they don't have to worry about their quarterly returns.