The Fear and Loathing of the One Percent
Published: Wednesday, 8 Aug 2012 | 12:18 PM ET
Are they the whiny rich? Or besieged job creators?
Whatever you call them, and whatever your politics, there is no doubting that the One Percent is on the defensive culturally, financially and psychologically. And now a new poll shows that their fear and lack of risk taking may be imposing real financial costs on the economy.
The 2012 Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, from American Express Publishing and Harrison Group, finds that One Percenters are hoarding three times as much cash as they were two years ago. Their savings rate soared to 34 percent in the second quarter of 2012, up from 12 percent in 2007.
Higher savings would normally be good for the economy. But not now, when capital is needed to invest in growth and jobs. The One Percenters put 56 percent of their available cash into savings accounts and money markets in 2012 thats up from 24 percent in 2007.
More: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48570985
Snip~ "The survey found that 62 percent of One Percenters are in favor of an income-tax increase."