Skip to main content

Financial Wellbeing of Asian Americans

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Consumer Finance Research

Abstract

The Asian American population in the USA has been increasing. Research on the economic wellbeing of this minority group is far from being adequate. It is generally found that Asian Americans are more highly educated and have more wealth. Although the homeownership rate of this population is lower than the national average rate, the gap is gradually narrowing. Asian Americans are found to have more confidence in their financial future and have better management in their financial lives. In addition, Asian-owned businesses have been an important part of the US economy and, as such, the self-employment status of Asian Americans has stimulated great interest for research. Large differences in financial behaviors exist among different groups in Asian Americans. This chapter serves the purpose to summarize past research on Asian American consumer finances and provide directions for future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Apgar, W. C., Jr., Dispasquale, D., Cummings, J., & McArdle, N. (1990). The state of the nation’s housing 1990. Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asian Real Estate Association of America. (2007, June). Following the path to Asian American home ownership. Retrieved August 1, 2007, from http://www.areaa.org/cms/AREAAUCLA2007b.pdf.

  • Asian Real Estate Association of America. (2011). Following the path to Asian American home ownership. Retrieved October, 2, 2014, from http://www.areaa.org/download/MSA_Report.pdf.

  • Barringer, H. R., Takeuchi, D. T., & Xenos, P. (1990). Education, occupational prestige, and income of Asian Americans. Sociology of Education, 63(1), 27–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, T. (1999). Existing self-employment: an analysis of Asian immigrant-owned small businesses. Small business economics, 13(3), 171–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, T., & Dunham, C. R. (1993). Asian-American success in self-employment. Economic Development Quarterly, 7(2), 199–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, S., & O’Malley, M. (2003). College on credit: How borrowers perceive their education debt. NASFAA Journal of Student Financial Aid, 33(3), 7–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, R. (2004). Hispanic and Asian Americans increasing faster than overall population. Retrieved January 19, 2007, from http://www.census.gov/PressRelease/www/releases/archives/race/001839.html.

  • Black, H. M., Collins, C., & Cyree, K. (1997). Do black-owned banks discriminate against black borrowers? Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 11(1–2), 189–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borjas, G. J. (2002). Homeownership in the immigrant population. Journal of Urban Economics, 52(3), 448–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, R. L. (1990). Black and Asian self-employment in large metropolitan areas: a comparative analysis. Social Problems, 37(2), 258–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucks, B. K., Kennickell, A. B., & Moore, K. B. (2006). Recent changes in U.S. family finances: Evidence from the 2001 and 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances. Federal Reserve Bulletin. Retrieved November 11, 2006, from http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bul-letin/2006/financesurvey.pdf

  • Calomiris, C. W., Kahn, C. M., & Longhofer, S. D. (1994). Housing finance intervention and private incentives: Helping minorities and the poor. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 26(3), 634–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, L. A., & Kaufman, R. L. (2006). Racial differences in household wealth: Beyond black and white. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 24(2), 131–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, C. D., Rhee, B. K., & Rhee, C. (1999). Does cultural origin affect saving behavior? Evidence from immigrants. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 48(1), 33–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chi, P. S. K., & Laquatra, J. (1998). Profiles of housing cost burden in the United States. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 19(2), 175–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobb-Clark, D. A., & Hildebrand, A. A. (2006). The wealth and asset holdings of U.S.-born and foreign-born households: Evidence from SIPP data. Review of Income and Wealth, 52(1), 17–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coulson, N. E. (1999). Why are Hispanic- and Asian-American home-ownership rates so low?: Immigration and other factors. Journal of Urban Economics, 45(2), 209–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyer, B., Burnsed, K. A., & Dyer, C. L. (2006). Ethnicity and household expenditures: furnishings, fashion, and flux? Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 35(2), 131–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Employee Benefit Research Institute. (2001). Retirement planning, savings, & expectations among ethnic groups. Retrieved from http://www.ebri.org/rcs/1998/rcs-expectations.pdf.

  • Employee Benefit Research Institute. (2002). Minority groups express concerns about saving and retirement planning. Retrieved from http://www.ebri.org/prrel/pr564.pdf.

  • Fan, J. X. (1997). Expenditure patterns of Asian American: Evidence from the U.S. Consumer expenditure survey, 1980–1992. Family and Consumer Science Research Journal, 25(4), 339–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan, J. X., & Koonce-Lewis, J. (1999). Budget allocation patterns of African Americans. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 33(1), 134–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, M., & Kim, K. C. (1998). Self-employment rates of Asian immigrant groups: An analysis of intragroup and intergroup differences. International Migration Review, 32(3), 654–681.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fontes, A., & Fan, J. X. (2006). The effects of ethnic identity on household budget allocation to status conveying goods. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 27(4), 643–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getter, D. E. (2006). Consumer credit risk and pricing. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 40(1), 41–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han, S. (2004). Discrimination in lending: Theory and evidence. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 29(1), 5–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, G., & Bond, M. H. (1988). The confucius connection: From cultural roots to economic growth. Organizational Dynamics, 16, 5–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, G., & Kao, Y. E. (1997). Emergency fund adequacy of Asian Americans. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 18(2), 127–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsee, C. K., & Weber, E. U. (1999). Cross-national differences in risk preference and lay predictions. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 12(2), 165–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, M. O. (2004). Race/ethnicity and beliefs about wealth and poverty. Social Science Quarterly, 85(3), 827–853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, W. C., & Walker, M. B. (1996). The cultural affinity hypothesis and mortgage lending decisions. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 13(1), 57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ING Retirement Research Institute. (2012, February). Culture complex examining the retirement and financial habits, attitudes and preparedness of America’s diverse workforce. Retrieved from http://www.diversityinc.com/medialib/uploads/2012/02/Retirement-Revealed-White-Paper.pdf.

  • Kim, D. (2004). The effect of financial aid on students’ college choice: Differences by racial groups. Research in Higher Education, 45(1), 43–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., & Squires, G. D. (1998). The color of money and the people who lend it. Journal of Housing Research, 9(2), 271–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. S. K., Yang, P. H., Atkinson, D. R., Wolfe, M. M., & Hong, S. (2001). Cultural value similarities and differences among Asian American Ethnic Groups. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 7(4), 343–361.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krivo, L. J., & Kaufman, R. L. (2004). Housing and wealth inequality: Racial-ethnic differences in home equity in the United States. Demography, 41(3), 585–605.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, H., Zuiker, V. S., & Bauer, J. W. (2004). Factors associated with the poverty status of Asian immigrant householders by citizenship status. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 25(1), 101–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, A. C. (2004). A profile of financially at-risk college students. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 38(1), 56–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masuo, D. M., Malroutu, Y. L., Hanashiro, R., & Kim, J. H. (2004). College students’ money beliefs and behaviors: An Asian perspective. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 25(4), 469–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, E. D., & Akresh, I. R. (2010). Housing cost burden and new lawful immigrants in the United States. Population Research and Policy Review, 29(2), 143–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nam, Y. (2014). Immigration and economic conditions among older Asian Americans. Race and Social Problems, 6(1), 15–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oh, S., & Min, P. G. (2011). Generation and earnings patterns among Chinese, Filipino, and Korean Americans in New York. International Migration Review, 45(4), 852–871.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olney, M. L. (1998). When your world is not enough: Race, collateral, and household credit. Journal of Economic History, 58(2), 408–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter, G., Gabriel, S. A., & Myers, D. (2001). Race, immigrant status, and housing tenure choice. Journal of Urban Economics, 49(1), 150–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter, G., Yang, L., & Yu, Z. (2003). Heterogeneity in Asian American home-ownership: The impact of household endowments and immigrant status. Urban Studies, 40(3), 505–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter, G., Yang, L., & Yu, Z. (2004). Homeownership determinants for Chinese Americans: Assimilation, ethnic concentration and nativity. Real Estate Economics, 32(3), 509–539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, V. G., & Morris, M. D. (2005). Who is in control? The role of self-perception, knowledge, and income in explaining consumer financial behavior. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 39(2), 299–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, W. (1971). Japanese Americans: Oppression and success. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • PewResearch. (2013, April). The rise of Asian Americans. Retrieved Oct 4, 2014 from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/06/19/the-rise-of-asian-americans/.

  • Plassmann, V. S., & Norton, M. J. (2004). Child‐adult expenditure allocation by ethnicity. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 33(1), 475–497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Portes, A., & Zhou, M. (1996). Self-employment and earnings of immigrants. American Sociological Review, 61(2), 219–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prudential Financial. (2013, October). Asian Americans on the Road to Retirement. Retrieved Oct 4, 2014 from http://research.prudential.com/documents/rp/AsianAmericansontheRoadtoRetirementFINAL.pdf

  • Reeves, T., & Bennett, C. E. (2004). We the people: Asians in the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhine, S. L. W., & Greene, W. H. (2006). The determinants of being unbanked for U.S. immigrants. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 40(1), 21–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sakamoto, A., Goyette, K. A., & Kim, C. (2009). Socioeconomic attainments of Asian Americans. Annual Review of Sociology, 35, 255–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwenk, N. E. (1991). Trends in housing. Family Economics Review, 4(1), 14–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, D. L., & Abdel-Ghany, M. (2006). Determinants of income differentials: Comparing Asians with whites and blacks. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 27(4), 588–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. P. (1995). Racial and ethnic differences in wealth in the Health and Retirement Study. Journal of Human Resources, 30, 158–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Springstead, G. R., & Wilson, T. M. (2000). Participation in voluntary individual savings accounts: An analysis of IRAs, 401(k)s, and TSP. Social Security Bulletin, 63(1), 34–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takei, I., & Sakamoto, A. (2011). Poverty among Asian Americans in the 21st century. Sociological perspectives, 54(2), 251–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The World Values Survey Association. (2014). The World values Survey Wave 6. Stockholm, Sweden: Author. Retrieved from http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSOnline.jsp.

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2007). 2007 Survey of business owners summaries of findings. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2011, April 28). Census bureau reports the number of Asian-owned businesses increased at more than twice the national rate (News release). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2013, September 19). 2012 American Community Survey: 2012 ACS 1-year estimates. Retrieved October 2, 2014 from http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/2012_release/.

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2014, April 23). Facts for features: Asian/Pacific American heritage month: May 2014 (News release). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, E. U., & Hsee, C. (1998). Cross-cultural differences in risk perception, but cross-cultural similarities in attitudes towards perceived risk. Management Science, 44(9), 1205–1217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, E. U., Hsee, C. K., & Sokolowska, J. (1998). What folklore tells us about risk and risk taking: Cross-cultural comparisons of American, German, and Chinese proverbs. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 75(2), 170–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wells Fargo (2013, June 4). Chinese American Investors Comfortable with Current Financial Situation, Confident About Financial Future, According to Wells Fargo Survey (News release). San Francisco. Retrieved October 2, 2014 from https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/press/2013/20130604_ChineseAmericanInvestors/.

  • Wong, M. G. (1982). The cost of being Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino in the United States: 1960, 1970, 1976. Pacific Sociological Review, 25(1), 59–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P., Lai, C. F., Nagasawa, R., & Lin, T. (1998). Asian Americans as a model minority: Self-perceptions and perceptions by other racial groups. Sociological Perspectives, 41(1), 95–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, Y., & Goyette, K. (2004). Asian Americans: A demographic portrait. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao, R. (2010). Financial well-being of Chinese American households. East Asian Economic Research, 69(1), 291–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao, R., Sharpe, D. L., & Gorham, E. E. (2011). An exploratory study of Chinese Americans’ debt ownership. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 32(4), 600–611.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, Z. (2006). A different path to homeownership: The case of Taiwanese immigrants in Los Angeles. Housing Studies, 21(4), 555–579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, M., & Kamo, Y. (1994). An analysis of earnings patterns for Chinese, Japanese, and non‐Hispanic white males in the United States. The Sociological Quarterly, 35(4), 581–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rui Yao Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Yao, R. (2016). Financial Wellbeing of Asian Americans. In: Xiao, J. (eds) Handbook of Consumer Finance Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28887-1_19

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics