Module 15 · Finance around the world
Saving and investing around the world
Where households keep their money in Japan, the euro area and the US, how the same profit is taxed very differently by country and account, and how beginners usually start.
This lesson is not translated into your language yet, so it is shown in English.
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In this lesson
- Compare how households in Japan, the euro area and the US split their financial assets
- Calculate the tax on the same investment profit in different countries and accounts
- Explain why the account can matter as much as the country
- Describe common first steps for a beginner investor in several countries
Kenji in Tokyo, Hana in Berlin and Louis in Lyon each put the equivalent of €10,000 into a world stock fund twelve years ago. Today it is worth €20,000, so each has a €10,000 profit. Who keeps the most?
Where households keep their money
Households split their savings very differently. The Bank of Japan compares households in Japan, the US and the euro area, with data as of end-March 2026:
| Share of financial assets | Cash and deposits | Shares | Funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 47.2% | 16.7% | 6.9% |
| Euro area | 31.1% | 25.5% | 12.1% |
| United States | 10.7% | 43.4% | 13.3% |
Cash and deposits hold their value in euros or yen but lose buying power when prices rise. Shares can rise and fall, and they have grown more over long periods. Neither choice is right for everyone.
The same profit, different tax
A is due on the profit when you sell. The rate depends on the country and on the account. A can reduce or remove it.
The place where you are a decides which country taxes you, not where your broker is.
How beginners usually start
Most countries have a simple route for beginners, often built around a tax-friendly account and regular small purchases. Regular purchases of a fixed amount are called . The , a fund that trades on an exchange, is a common building block because it spreads money across many companies at a low cost.
In Slovenia, the , an individual investment account, has been available since March 2026. Investors who use a broker must report gains to the tax authority themselves. Always compare fees, because a tax benefit is worth little if the product costs 2% a year.
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