This article reviews the current state of knowledge on the determinants of
saving rates, presenting the main findings and contributions of the recentl
y completed World Bank research project, "Saving Across the World." The art
icle discusses the basic design of the research project and its core databa
se, the World Saving Database. It then summarizes the main project results
and places them in the context of the literature on saving, identifying the
key policy and nonpolicy determinants of private saving rates. Special att
ention is paid to the relationship between growth and saving and the impact
of specific policies on saving rates. The article concludes by introducing
the studies included in this special issue.