This paper derives formulas for estimating the intensity of precautionary savings motives and quantifying the level of precautionary savings from the perspective of the consumer's expected utility maximization model. It then conducts empirical analysis using county-level panel data from rural areas of the Chengdu-Chongqing region spanning from 2011 to 2021. The results show that rural residents in the Chengdu-Chongqing region exhibit significant precautionary saving motives,with precautionary wealth holdings equivalent to 3.5 months of consumption expenditure. Looking at regional differences,rural residents in Chongqing hold precautionary wealth equivalent to 3 months of consumption expenditure,while those in Chengdu hold precautionary wealth equivalent to over 8 months. The higher level of precautionary savings in Chengdu is mainly due to the greater income uncertainty and a relatively younger population structure. Although the level of precautionary savings among rural residents in Chongqing is lower,their motive for precautionary savings is stronger,approximately 1.6 times that of their counterparts in Chengdu.
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