Rule-Based Economics in Empirical Practice: An Exemplar

We present a detailed didactical case study to illustrate how the empirical methodology presented can be employed to develop an empirical research design in rule-based economic inquiry. The case builds on the example of the classical problem of investigating the determinants of savings. The chosen example helps to clarify the distinction between a rule perspective on savings and the notion of aggregate savings: the former refers to the willingness of agents to save, and the latter addresses the outcomes of saving operations conducted by agents in applying their savings rule.