Household Consumption Research Articles

Determinants of Willingness to Pay for Community-Based Health Insurance in Ethiopia: National Household Survey

The existing evidence on households' participation in Ethiopia's community-based health insurance (CBHI) scheme is limited, lacks representativeness, and lacks disaggregation. Thus, this study aims to assess households' willingness to pay (WTP) for CBHI membership and identify the factors that influence their decision to enroll. From February to May 2020, a nationwide cross-sectional household survey was conducted involving CBHI member and non-member households. The primary theories that informed this study were utility theory, social capital theory, and the health belief model. Sample included 5,976 households from 166 EAs—118 in CBHI regions and 48 in non-CBHI regions. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling used to select enumeration areas (EAs) and households from within these areas. The maximum amount of money at which participants responded "yes" in the bidding game exercise was used to measure WTP. Data were analyzed using STATA Version 16. Household expenditure was adjusted for key factors. Analyses explored WTP for CBHI by region, membership, and livelihood, with WTP based on mean maximum values. Linear regression identified influencing factors. The findings reveal that 30.9% of participants were active CBHI members. The average WTP increased with each additional family member, both in rural (AMD = 9.3 [6.8, 11.9]) and urban areas (AMD = 7.2 [1.0, 13.4]). In urban areas, WTP was also positively associated with the ability to pay (ATP) for CBHI (AMD = 64.1 [6.3, 121.8]). Male respondents and those who were literate in urban areas had higher mean WTP values of AMD = 39.8 [13.1, 66.4] and AMD = 56.8 [26.1, 87.4], respectively. Additionally, holding leadership positions in health and women's development initiatives positively influenced WTP. The study found that 30.9% of participants were active CBHI members. WTP for CBHI was higher among larger families. In urban areas, WTP was positively associated with the ability to pay (ATP) for CBHI, particularly among male and literate respondents. Community leadership roles in health and women's development also positively influenced WTP. To improve the CBHI scheme, adjustments should be made to premiums based on households' ability to pay. Community engagement should be strengthened, service quality enhanced, regional disparities addressed, and performance regularly monitored.

The Impact of Taxation on the Cost of Living: A Comprehensive Analysis

This study examines the taxation-related factors affecting Malaysia's cost of living. The rising cost of living, a persistent issue in economics and social well-being, is often linked to global challenges faced by emerging nations. Direct tax has been identified as a primary contributor to the financial strain on households, who must manage various essentials beyond food, clothing, and shelter, such as education, cellular services, and transportation. The study analyzes the relationship between seven independent variables—direct tax, unemployment rate, exchange rate, household consumption expenditure, house price index, subsidies, and net trade—and the cost of living in Malaysia, using 30 years of annual data (1992-2022) with EViews for econometric analysis. This study uses descriptive statistical analysis for the description of data, coefficient matrix analysis and regression analysis for determining the impact of dependent and independent variables. The findings show that the cost-of-living pressures are positively correlated with direct tax, housing price index, and net trade. Data was sourced from the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), the World Bank, and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU). The analysis underscores the significant impact of direct tax on the cost of living. To mitigate this impact, governments could implement fair and progressive tax reforms, provide targeted subsidies, and promote economic growth to boost income levels. Additionally, social programs and efficient government investment can further reduce household financial burdens.

Systematic Review of Consumer Price Index Methods and Software: Evidence from ASEAN Countries and Scholarly Research

This comprehensive systematic review provides an in-depth analysis of consumer price index (CPI) methods and software use in Asian countries. The study looks at the practises used by countries to calculate CPI, with an overwhelming preference for monthly calculations, reflecting the dynamic economic growth of the region. The use of household expenditure surveys and weighting sources ensures that CPI accurately captures changes in consumer spending patterns and the relative importance of different goods and services. Applications of CPI in Asian countries cover a wide range, including indexation of wages, pensions and social security contributions, as well as its central role as a main indicator for monetary policy decisions, macroeconomic modelling and various analytical purposes. The systematic review highlights various calculation methods for CPI, including the Carli index, the Laspeyres index, the chained Jevons index and the Dutot index, each of which has different strengths and weaknesses that affect the accuracy and reliability of CPI's measurements. In terms of software, the study encounters a range of applications, including Microsoft Excel, SAS, STATA, R, Python, EViews and SPSS, each offering versatile capacities for statistical analysis and econometric modelling. In addition, the study explores potential software alternatives such as Gretl, Julia, EpiData, GNU Octave, Tableau, Matplotlib, Seaborn and QGIS, whose suitability for CPI calculations should be considered. The research findings highlight the importance of transparent and accurate CPI calculations in shaping effective policy decisions. Policy makers can use these findings to refine CPI measurements to enable well-informed strategies to steer the economy. The study suggests avenues for future research that include assessing specific impacts of CPI calculations, further developing software tools, and incorporating consumer perceptions into CPI development.

Has the Development of Broadband Infrastructure Improved Household Energy Consumption in Rural China?

Digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in shaping household energy consumption behaviors, especially in the context of achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals in China. In this study, we explored the impact of broadband infrastructure on household energy consumption and clean fuel choices, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). In a difference-in-differences (DID) framework, our findings indicate that the promotion of broadband infrastructure significantly increases rural household energy consumption and facilitates a transition to cleaner energy sources. Notably, households with better socioeconomic status, particularly those with higher education and income levels, benefit more from enhanced broadband internet access. Mechanism analysis reveals that the “Broadband China” policy can positively influence household consumption through several potential channels: fostering technological innovation, enhancing energy efficiency in cities, and improving overall environmental awareness. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of broadband infrastructure in shaping household energy consumption patterns and have important implications for policymakers, particularly in the context of sustainable development and energy transition efforts.

Assessment of Water Consumption Behavior in Single Households Using Smart Water Meters

Smart meters monitor hourly water consumption patterns while reducing the cost and inconvenience of traditional meters. This study comprehensively analyzes 1871 households that previously used traditional meters from the distribution point to the distribution area. All the households were equipped with smart meters and the data collected were used for analysis. On the basis of the total estimated water consumption, 227 households were classified as single households. These households were further classified into single-worker and -nonworker households. This study analyzed smart meter data to evaluate the timings and amounts of water consumption peaks. The results indicate that worker households peaked at 8:00, with 29 L/h of consumption on weekdays, and peaked again on evenings at 20:00–21:00, averaging 32 L/h. For nonworker households, the peak occurred at 9:00, with 20 L/h, with no major changes in the afternoon, and a second peak occurred at 19:00–20:00 in evening, with an average of 19 L/h. Moreover, worker households peaked at 8:00 and 20:00 on weekdays, and at 9:00 and 19:00 on weekends. It was revealed that worker households consume 10% more on weekends than on weekdays, and 262% more from 13:00 to 16:00. These findings may assist in water supply planning by supporting distribution schedules on the basis of peak household consumption, leading to more helpful resource management.

Climate change adaptation in China: Differences in electricity consumption between rural and urban residents

We use high-frequency electricity consumption data (17.58 million observations) at level of household to parameterize the relationship between household electricity consumption and temperature for southern China. We find that although urban households are more sensitive to extreme temperature than rural households, with climate warming, rural households would adopt climate change adaptive behavior (e.g. installing air-conditioning), and rural households' sensitivity to temperature would increase significantly. Considering the long-run response, we find that climate warming as predicted under the RCP8.5 scenario would lead to an increase of 23.42 % and 22.28 % in the summer peak electricity consumption of rural and urban households in 2061–2080. Compared with the results of short-run response, ignoring the long-run response would lead to the summer peak electricity consumption of rural and urban households being underestimated by 56.13 % and 20.11 %. Only for our research sample, the economic losses in rural and urban areas caused by climate warming are as high as 1.358 billion Chinese yuan and 0.617 billion Chinese yuan in 2061–2080 under the RCP 8.5 scenario. Climate change would bring serious losses to rural residents.

Out-of-pocket expenditures in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to substantial out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures for households during treatment. This study aimed to investigate the OOP expenditures among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Articles were retrieved from the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar in the period of 2019–2022 and evaluated for quality using the STROBE guidelines. Homogeneity was assessed using the I2 index, and publication bias was examined using a funnel plot. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16. Results of the study have shown that a total of nine articles were included in the meta-analysis. The average OOP expenditure for hospitalized COVID-19 patients was found to be US $308.25 (95% CI: 4.17-620.67). The highest OOP expenditure was reported by CHAU (2021) (US $3171.28), followed by GRAG (2022) (US $1582.38), and the lowest by KOTWANI (2021) (US $56.35). According to the results obtained Significant inequality was observed in the OOP expenditures across different countries. Consistent policy recommendations should be made in international forums to reduce these costs in future pandemics for patients in both developed and developing nations.

Thermostat standardization, technology trends, future considerations: Expert interviews

Thermostats dictate the majority of energy consumption in households across North America. Despite this, there are minimal requirements for interface configuration or usability. Furthermore, thermostats have developed into highly sophisticated, multi-modal consumer devices, integrating smart technology and complex automated features. A comprehensive understanding of the benefits and challenges for new, complex thermostat features, as well advisement for the way forward, is unclear. This paper addresses this gap and establishes a harmonized expert opinion through a series of semi-structured interviews. Twenty-five interviewees from private/public industries and academia, with an average of 21 years of experience related to heating/cooling engineering, share their expert opinions for thermostat standardization, technology trends, and future considerations. Overall, experts agree that some degree of standardization is required to improve thermostat usability and put forward critical elements for a standard. Experts offer suggestions for the adoption of smart technology, including demand response programs, automated setbacks, and integration with smartphones/smart homes. Results are supplemented by an AI-generated affinity diagramming exercise and contextualized with a characterization of sixty EnergyStar certified smart thermostats.

The effect of protecting women against economic shocks to fight HIV in Cameroon, Africa: The POWER randomised controlled trial.

Women in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Young women are twice as likely to be living with HIV as men of the same age and account for 64% of new HIV infections among young people. Many studies suggest that financial needs, alongside biological susceptibility, are a leading cause of the gender disparity in HIV acquisition. New robust evidence suggests women adopt risky sexual behaviours to cope with economic shocks, the sudden decreases in household's income or consumption power, enhancing our understanding of the link between poverty and HIV. We investigated if health insurance protects against economic shocks, reducing the need for vulnerable women to engage in risky sexual behaviours and reducing HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a formal shock coping strategy to prevent HIV among women at high risk of HIV (registration number: ISRCTN 22516548). Between June and August 2021, we recruited 1,508 adolescent girls and women over age 15 years who were involved in transactional sex (n = 753) or commercial sex (n = 755), using snowball sampling. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive free health insurance for themselves and their economic dependents for 12 months either at the beginning of the study (intervention; n = 579; commercial sex n = 289, transactional sex n = 290) from November 2021 or at the end of the study 12 months later (control; n = 568; commercial sex n = 290, transactional sex n = 278). We collected data on socioeconomic characteristics of participants. Primary outcomes included incidence of HIV and STIs and were measured at baseline, 6 months after randomisation, and 12 months after randomisation. We found that study participants who engaged in transactional sex and were assigned to the intervention group were less likely to become infected with HIV post-intervention (combined result of 6 months post-intervention or 12 months post-intervention, depending on the follow-up data available; odds ratio (OR) = 0.109 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.014, 0.870]); p = 0.036). There was no evidence of a reduction in HIV incidence among women and girls involved in commercial sex. There was also no effect on STI acquisition among both strata of high-risk sexual activity. The main limitations of this study were the challenges of collecting reliable STI incidence data and the low incidence of HIV in women and girls involved in commercial sex, which might have prevented detection of study effects. The study provides to our knowledge the first evidence of the effectiveness of a formal shock coping strategy for HIV prevention among women who engage in transactional sex in Africa, reinforcing the importance of structural interventions to prevent HIV. The trial was registered with the ISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN 22516548. Registered on 31 July 2021.

Influence of multigenerational and living-alone households on high fat, sugar or sodium (HFSS) food consumption pattern in aging population

ObjectivesTo investigate the correlation between household composition and consumption of different groups of high fat, sugar or sodium (HFSS) among older persons in Thailand. Study DesignThis study used cross-sectional data from the 2021 population-based survey called the Health Behavior of Population Survey. MethodsData from this study were drawn from 39,384 sampled Thai older persons age 60 years or over. A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect information about frequency of HFSS food consumption, household composition, and socio-demographic characteristics. Binary logistic regression was performed to investigate correlations between household composition and food consumption. ResultsMore than three in five older Thais lived in a multigenerational home. The probabilities of consuming high-fat food, fast food, and snacks among older persons who lived with working-age person(s) and child(ren)/adolescents were much higher than for those living alone. Older persons who lived alone had the highest probability of consuming instant food, compared with other types of household composition. Participants who lived with child(ren)/adolescents only or with working-age person(s) only (p≤0.01) and child(ren)/adolescents only (p≤0.001) were more likely to consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). ConclusionsThe findings point to life course interventions to discourage HFSS consumption across generations. Social interventions and public policy aiming at increasing intergenerational interactions could be beneficial for healthier diets for not only older persons but also across generations.

Assessment of the productivity loss due to leading maternal ill-health conditions: a follow-up study of a prospective pregnancy cohort in rural Sri Lanka.

This study aimed to assess the productivity loss and cost due to maternal ill-health conditions and its associated factors throughout pregnancy in rural Sri Lanka. A follow-up study of women registered in the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo). Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka. 1573 pregnant women who were followed up from pregnancy identification to termination. The primary outcome measures of this study are productivity loss due to maternal ill-health conditions expressed by days/month and productivity cost due to maternal ill-health conditions expressed in monetary terms (US$)/month. Data were collected monthly, and all pregnant women were asked to report the leading cause of maternal ill-health condition and the associated loss due to absenteeism and presenteeism. During the pregnancy follow-up, 3595 (81.5%) months had at least one episode of maternal ill-health condition. Of these, only 1729 (48.1%) episodes sought medical care. Assistance for lost routine work was reported in 1281 (35.6%) episodes. The absenteeism, presenteeism and gross and net productivity loss per month were 3.6, 4.5, 8.1 and 5.5 days/month, respectively. The corresponding productivity cost was US$15.26/month. Nausea and vomiting (NVP) reported the highest prevalence (n=1599, 44.5%) until the second month of the third trimester, presenteeism (5.5 days/month) and gross productivity loss (9.5 days/month). Pregnant women with vaginal bleeding reported the highest absenteeism (6.2 days/month) and net productivity loss (6.8 days/month). Pregnant women diagnosed with anaemia reported the highest productivity cost (US$26.98/month). Monthly household expenditure, poverty and receiving assistance were the associated factors of productivity loss (p<0.05). Maternal ill-health conditions during pregnancy lead to productivity loss in rural Sri Lanka. NVP, vaginal bleeding and anaemia are the leading causes of productivity loss. Hence, controlling and preventing the leading causes are the recommended priorities.

Reprint of: How do households respond to income shocks?

We use panel data from the Italian Survey of Household Income and Wealth from 1991 to 2016 to document what components of the household budget constraint change in response to shocks to household labor income, both over shorter and over longer horizons. Consumption and wealth responses are informative about the household consumption (or savings) function and thus about what class of consumption-savings model best describes the data. Empirically, we first show that shocks to labor income are associated with negligible changes in transfers and non-labor income components, modest changes in consumption expenditures, and large changes in wealth. To understand the wealth response we then split households into a sample that does not own business or real estate wealth, and a sample that does. For the first group, we find that consumption responses are more substantial (and increasing with the horizon of the income shock) and wealth responses are much smaller (and mildly increasing with the income shock horizon). Turning to theory, we argue that for this group, a simple extension of the standard permanent income hypothesis (PIH) consumption function that allows for partial insurance against even permanent income shocks explains the consumption and wealth responses well, both at short and long horizons. For the second group with business wealth or real estate wealth the standard framework cannot explain the large changes in wealth associated with income shocks. We conclude that models which include shocks to the value of household wealth are necessary to fully evaluate the sources and consequences of household resource risk.

Retirement consumption puzzle in Japan: Insights from pension and senior worker employment policy changes

Previous studies in Japan have examined the retirement consumption puzzle (RCP) when mandatory retirement was prevalent. However, the retirement landscape has significantly evolved due to rising public pension ages and enhanced policies promoting employment among senior workers. This study explores household consumption behavior as a result of these recent shifts, particularly focusing on the increasingly common practice of partial retirement. We investigate household consumption during retirement, considering partial retirement enabled by policies allowing continued part-time work or self-employment beyond the mandatory retirement age, and address endogeneity issues between retirement and consumption. Our findings reveal that non-durable and food expenditures increase during partial retirement, driven by liquidity effects from substantial retirement lump-sum payments. These results challenge the traditional understanding of consumption patterns in an aging society, highlighting the impact of changes in work environments.

Quantification of the thermal history of insects in foods using real-time PCR-based DNA fragmentation analysis

A major challenge faced by the food industry is the contamination of food by insects. Once an insect is found in a food product, it is important to determine how it entered the food. Given that the thermal history of insects provides a clue to unraveling this mystery, in this study, we have developed a novel real-time PCR-based DNA fragmentation analysis method to quantify the thermal history of insects found in foods.We selected two species of cockroaches (Periplaneta fuliginosa and Blattela germanica) as investigative targets because cockroach contamination often causes significant economic losses in the food industry. A set of real-time PCRs was designed for each species to amplify the species-specific regions of 18S ribosomal DNA at approximate 100 and 300 bp. The degree of DNA fragmentation was evaluated using the differences between the amplification curves for the 100- and 300-bp sequences. We observed that the degree of DNA fragmentation was quantifiable when the insect was heated to >100 °C. Therefore, we determined whether cockroaches contaminate retort foods during the manufacturing or household consumption stages. This novel analytical method is expected to improve food safety and product reliability by identifying the cause of insect contamination.

Air pollution and the mystery of high household savings in China

Despite consumption being a key measure of residential welfare, the relationship of the residential savings rates, an inverse proxy for household consumption, with air pollution is unclear. This study empirically examines the impact of air pollution on household savings rates, and the underlying mechanism. The results reveal that worsening air pollution significantly increases household savings rates; this finding holds under alternative variable specifications and employing instrumental variables to address endogeneity issues. The mechanism analysis demonstrates that air pollution enhances household savings rates through health risks. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that in developed areas with more comprehensive public medical service systems, the positive effect of air pollution on household savings rates weakens in second-tier cities and above as well as in high-income areas. Furthermore, improvements in commercial insurance coverage mitigates the positive effect of air pollution on household savings rates. Overall, this study explains the high savings phenomenon among Chinese households from an environmental perspective. The Chinese government should encourage the use of renewable energy, improve air pollution control, and reduce the inhibitory effects of air pollution on residential consumption.

Water provision benefits from karst ecosystems: An example for Watuputih groundwater basin, North Kendeng Mountain, Indonesia

Karst ecosystems offer a wealth of ecosystem services, but their protection is increasingly challenging due to degradation and land-use conversion, including limestone mining. This study investigates the water provision service derived from karst ecosystems threatened by limestone mining in the Watuputih groundwater basin, Central Java, Indonesia. Water supply was quantified by measuring water discharge rates from major springs around the basin. Water usage was quantified for household consumption, agriculture, and recreation. This study also measured water infiltration rates in mining and non-mining areas to indicate the effects of limestone mining to hydrological processes. This study identified three primary springs around the basin: Sumber Seribu spring, Brubulan spring, and Kalutan spring, with discharge rates of 1,080 liters per second, 85 liters per second, and 0.76 liters per second, respectively. A local water company extracts water from Sumber Seribu spring at a rate of 80 liters per second to supply approximately 57,600 individuals. The water supply from the three springs can irrigate approximately 1,594 hectares of rice fields. Water from Sumber Seribu spring also supports recreational activities in Sumber Semen recreation park, attracting an average of 19,173 visitors per year. This study revealed a complete impairment of soil's water infiltration capacity in limestone mining areas. These findings underscore the pressing need to safeguard the Watuputih groundwater basin and to mitigate the detrimental effects of limestone mining on hydrological processes. This involves designating the Watuputih karst ecosystem as a protected area, implementing Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, and restoring degraded post-mining sites.

The Impact of Farmers' Socio-Economic Conditions Due to the Conversion of Agricultural Land in Setia Mulya Village, Bekasi Regency, Indonesia

Land conversion is the change of the original land function into another function. The conversion of laham affects the socio-economic conditions of farmers, especially in Setia Mulya Village. Socioeconomic conditions are a person's position in a community group that is determined by the type of economic activity, education, and income. The conversion of agricultural land can have an impact on the social and economic conditions of farmers. What is observed in this study is social conditions, economic conditions and their impact on farmers. The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in the socio-economic conditions of farmers due to land conversion and their impact on farmers' lives. The method used was a qualitative method with data sources obtained from observations, interviews, and documentation with farmers as respondents totaling 15 farmers, with sampling techniques using snowball sampling techniques. The results of the study showed changes in the socio-economic conditions of farmers due to land conversion that occurred in Setia Mulya Village. Changes in socio-economic conditions related to the age of farmers, changes in social status, changes in farmers' income, and farmers' household consumption. Farmers in Setia Mulya Village are cultivators so they have to pay rent to the landowner so that farming activities can continue. Although the area of agricultural land in Setia Mulya Village is very large, the high rental prices and the difficulty of irrigation flows make farmers have to look for decent agricultural land that can be used properly.

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Water Conservation in Household Consumption in Johor Bahru and Kuala Terengganu Districts of Malaysia

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Water Conservation in Household Consumption in Johor Bahru and Kuala Terengganu Districts of Malaysia

Circular plastic consumption in everyday life: a nexus of practice perspective

Plastic consumption is posing a critical challenge to global sustainability. Yet our understanding of the social and everyday dynamics of how and why people use plastics remains limited. Particularly, significant gaps in understanding exist concerning how plastics are embedded in households’ daily routines and practices and how this varies across different daily life settings. This article aims to bridge this gap by offering an in-depth exploration of the social and material dimensions of plastic consumption in varied Dutch households. Employing a theoretically and methodologically innovative approach, the article advances understanding of the connectivity of daily practices influencing household plastic use. Combining a social practice theoretical framework with a future-oriented, multi-modal imaginary methodology, we explore practice dynamics across diverse households of distinct life stages and compositions. Our analysis uncovers the complex interplay between daily practice arrangements and their systemic integration, revealing how daily life’s material, spatial and temporal dimensions are shaped and enabled by plastics. The study highlights the nuanced ways in which social variations in the organisation and institutional structures of daily life and engagement with socio-technical systems lock people into plastic consumption or enable transformative possibilities for sustainable change. By shedding light on the often overlooked social and everyday dynamics of plastic consumption, the article deepens theoretical understanding of practice connectivity while also opening new avenues for envisioning and facilitating transformation towards circular plastic consumption.

The Effect of Income and Consumption on Consumer Behavior

This research was conducted in Deli Serdang Regency with the aim of knowing the effect of income and consumption on consumer behavior in Deli Serdang Regency. Family income is the main factor in household consumption behavior. In carrying out consumption activities, this must be in accordance with the Indonesian economy. This study aims to determine the influence of family income on household consumption behavior in accordance with the principles of consumption in Islam. This research is a type of field research. The research sample was taken using a non-probability sampling technique with 50 respondents. Data collection using the questionnaire method the collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques, classical assumption tests, and simple regression analysis. The results of the study indicate that there is a positive influence between family income and house hold consumption behavior.