Household Budget Research Articles

The impact of tobacco consumption on household catastrophic health expenditure in Türkiye

Background: Understanding the financial burden of smoking on households is crucial for developing effective strategies and policies to reduce smoking and mitigate its impact on household health. Aim: To investigate the relationship between smoking and catastrophic health expenditure in Türkiye. Methods: This cross-sectional study used microdata from household budget surveys conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute in 2015 and 2019. The data included the socioeconomic characteristics, income levels and consumption patterns of various goods and services by individuals and households. We used the pooled logit model to analyse the factors influencing household catastrophic health expenditure, focusing on the smoking status of households. Results: The presence of a smoker in a household, an uninsured person, a disabled or ill member, and members with higher education were significant positive predictors of catastrophic health expenditure, while being poor, working and having school-aged children were significant negative predictors. Smokers within the household were the foremost contributors to the probability of catastrophic health expenditure, with a coefficient of 0.4101 and marginal effect of 7.94%. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for comprehensive tobacco control measures that analyse and use critical information from the interactions between public health and economic stability to reduce tobacco consumption and the associated financial burdens on households.

Rebound effects flatten differences in carbon footprints between car-free households, minimal drivers, and green car owners

Abstract While the greenhouse gas emissions of most sectors are declining in the EU, transport emissions are increasing. Passenger cars compose a large share of the transport sector emissions, and a lot of effort has been made to reduce them. Despite the significantly improved environmental performance of passenger cars, there is a prevailing belief that they are the most harmful mode of ground transport. In the study at hand, we illustrate how rebound effects of consumption may change this view. Passenger car is a relatively expensive transport mode. Expenditure on car-ownership reduces the remaining household budget and the related carbon footprint. Here, we compare the total consumer carbon footprints per capita between fossil-fuel car owners, green car owners, and car-free households in the Nordic countries, using survey data including 7 400 respondents. When income and household type are controlled with regression analysis, respondents without a car for climate reasons and “minimal drivers”, meaning the least driving 10% of fossil-fuel car owners, have the lowest carbon footprints. Other car-free households have 6% higher footprints, electric- and biofuel car owners 18%-24% higher footprints, and the increasingly driving fossil-fuel car owners 30%-189% higher carbon footprints than the first two groups. However, the working middle-income green car owners, minimal drivers, and car-free households have very similar sized carbon footprints. The results show some trade-off between car ownership and flying despite that the data was collected between 2021 and 2022, when COVID-19 was still partly affecting air travel.

Food Acquisition Locations and Food Groups Acquired According to Levels of Food Insecurity in Brazil

Food insecurity (FI) is a persistent issue in Brazil, with significant disparities existing across the country’s macroregions. This study investigated the food acquisition locations and types of foods purchased at different levels of FI, utilizing data from 57,920 households in the 2017–2018 Brazilian Household Budget Survey. Food acquisition locations were grouped into supermarkets, small markets, street fairs/fruit and vegetable stores/public markets, and others. Foods were categorized into 12 groups: rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, red meats, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products, bread, cookies, and sugary drinks. Supermarkets are the primary source of food in Brazil. However, in the North and Northeast regions, small markets are more frequently used across all levels of FI. Nationally, most food groups are predominantly purchased at supermarkets. Nevertheless, households experiencing moderate or severe FI rely more on small markets for essential items such as rice, beans, and proteins, as well as ultraprocessed foods. These findings highlight the need for public policies that improve food access for vulnerable populations and address regional inequalities. Enhancing access and ensuring food security across different regions is essential to promoting equitable and healthy diets throughout the country.

Coffee Intake in Brazil Influences the Consumption of Sugar, Sweets, and Beverages

Background/Objectives: Considering the high consumption of coffee in Brazil, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and the intake of added sugar, non-caloric sweeteners, sugary beverages, and foods. Methods: A modified case-crossover study was conducted using data from the national “Household Budget Survey (POF)” which 38,854 participants. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-h recalls on two non-consecutive days. Days with and without coffee consumption were compared (case-crossover) to evaluating the effects on sugar, sweeteners, sugary foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and milk. Results: 87% of Brazilians aged 10 and older consumed coffee on a giving day. The consumption of all food groups decreased as days of coffee consumption increased, except for non-caloric sweeteners and sugar, which increased. In the case-crossover analysis (2192 men and 2580 women), women who consumed coffee on one of the two days showed an increase of 10 g of sugar and of 0.10 mL (2 drops) of sweeteners. For men values were 8 g and 0.05 mL. Also, women reduced sugar-sweetened beverages (−56.8 mL/day), while men reduced milk intake (−25.9 mL/day). Conclusions: Coffee consumption was associated with increased intake of sugar and non-caloric sweeteners and lower intake of sweets, SSB, and milk. Reducing sweets and SSB is beneficial but increasing sweeteners and reducing milk are not. Potential strategies include encouraging the use of milk in coffee instead of sugar and sweeteners, as well as reducing the size of sugar sachets, which in Brazil typically range from 5 g to 8 g.

Dietary Intake of Micronutrients and Use of Vitamin and/or Mineral Supplements: Brazilian National Food Survey.

Vitamin and/or mineral supplements are designed to correct micronutrient deficiencies or maintain adequate intake. However, evidence suggests the indiscriminate use of these products, particularly among populations that already meet their micronutrient requirements through diet. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of vitamin and/or mineral supplement use and assess the dietary intake of micronutrients among users and non-users in the Brazilian adult and elderly populations. The prevalence of vitamin and/or mineral supplement use was estimated from a sample of 37,364 individuals who participated in the Brazilian National Food Survey, a module of the 2017-2018 Household Budget Survey. The average dietary intake of micronutrients-including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, cobalamin, pyridoxine, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, and folate-was calculated for both users and non-users of these supplements, based on 24 h dietary recalls collected during the survey. Analyses of dietary intake were stratified by sex and age group. The estimated overall prevalence of supplement use was 16.0% (95% CI: 15.4-16.6), with a higher prevalence among women (19.5% [95% CI: 18.7-20.5]) and the elderly (27.9% [95% CI: 26.4-29.4]). Women who used vitamin and/or mineral supplements showed higher average intakes for a greater number of dietary micronutrients compared to non-users. The findings from the analysis of average micronutrient intake from food sources, particularly among women and elderly women who used supplements, support the paradox of the "inverse supplement hypothesis", which suggests that individuals who use dietary supplements are often those with the least need for them.

Household Budgets Among Different Income Groups in Klang Valley

Budgeting is a common approach financial advisors introduce to teach individuals how to manage their expenses. Without budgeting, however, family living expenses may exceed the available income and jeopardise the family's overall financial goals. Financial issues are one of the significant causes of instability among families, especially lowincome earners who live below the usual standard and have an income that can only go for food and housing, making it impossible to satisfy their family's needs and attain goals. This scenario puts low-income families in a problematic state or condition that can be resolved through adequate financial support. This study examines the dynamics of household budgeting practices across various income groups within the Klang Valley region. The study also aims to identify the importance of budget allocation and expenditure priorities among low-income, middle-income, and high-income households. It underscores the crucial role of financial literacy and planning factors in budgeting practices, empowering individuals with the knowledge to manage their finances effectively. Data were collected from 65 tourism industry workers with multiple backgrounds by distributing questionnaires using a convenient sampling approach. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how income disparities shape household finances and inform policy interventions to enhance financial resilience and equity within the Klang Valley community.

Trying to find a balance: Energy excise duties in the context of climate targets, energy shocks, and redistributive goals

This study examines the implementation of an environmental tax reform in Italy, focusing on changes in excise duties on petrol, diesel and electricity. The reform is in line with the revised European Energy Tax Directive and aims to support European climate objectives. The main motivation of this research is to show how the additional revenues generated by the environmental reform can be used to mitigate its regressive impact on low-income households through cash transfers. The analysis uses a microsimulation model based on data from the Household Budget Survey. The environmental reform combined with the cash transfer is implemented for 2019 and 2022, this latter being a year significantly affected by the energy crisis. The results confirm the inherent regressivity of the environmental tax reform when considered in isolation, but they also reveal significant positive redistributive effects achieved by paying monetary transfers to households in the lowest three income deciles. In this case, the reform enhances redistributive outcomes that remain effective even when the structure of the transfers is modified. The paper also highlights the limited redistributive impact of the 2022 excise tax cuts on fuel, which aimed to address the regressive effects of the energy shock. Again, a targeted cash transfer would have been more effective for low-income households.

New evidence on household financial protection against out-of-pocket payments for health in Poland

Abstract Background Protecting households against financial hardship when using health care is an integral element of universal health coverage. Previous analysis showed that in Poland, catastrophic spending on health is more common than in many European countries. Over the last decade, several measures were undertaken to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket payments for households in Poland. Methods The study aimed to assess financial protection in Poland using the indicators of catastrophic and impoverishing health spending. It relies on the methodology developed by the WHO Region Office for Europe. Catastrophic expenditure is defined as out-of-pocket payments that are greater than 40% of household capacity to pay. The study uses data from the Polish household budget surveys in 2013-2021. Results The incidence of catastrophic health spending remained relatively constant over the years analyzed, with 9% of households affected. Only in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) it reached nearly 10%, although overall household out-of-pocket expenditure declined that year. The share of households impoverished or further impoverished due to out-of-pocket payments decreased from 4% in 2013 to 3% in 2021. Payments on medicines are the main driver of catastrophic spending, particularly among poorer households, although their role has diminished over time. Household’s available resources, gender, age, education, disability status, residence place, number of children, and household’s main source of income are significantly associated with catastrophic health payments. Conclusions Despite the implemented policies, household financial protection against out-of-pocket payments in Poland did not improve significantly between 2013 and 2021. Available evidence should be used to design well-tailored measures to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket payments, targeting the most vulnerable population groups and specific healthcare areas. Key messages • Household financial protection against out-of-pocket payments in Poland did not improve significantly between 2013 and 2021. • Out-of-pocket payments for medicines are the main cause of financial hardship for Polish households.

Rationalization of Energy Expenditure: Household Behavior in Poland

Background: The implementation of the EU climate and energy policy, along with changes in the legal environment, has led to a significant increase in energy prices in Poland. Consequently, energy expenditures are now a larger part of household budgets. These rising energy costs and the evolving legal landscape are compelling households to invest in energy-saving solutions and modify their energy consumption habits. This article aims to identify the activities of households in Poland regarding the rationalization of energy expenditures. It formulates the following research hypothesis: households invest in energy-saving appliances to rationalize energy expenditures and/or change their behaviors to reduce energy consumption. Methods: The paper is based on primary research conducted using an online questionnaire survey on a sample of 331 respondents in Poland in March and April 2023. Results: A classification tree algorithm was used to identify the level of investment activities and behavioral changes made by households to reduce energy expenditures. The authors found that low-income households and people who fear further energy price increases are the first of all to change their behaviors for more energy-efficient ones. Medium- and high-income households take investment measures. They replace household appliances with more energy-efficient ones and install heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. These investments are motivated by responsible consumption, environmental protection, cleanliness, and the ease of use of the appliances.

Drifting Away from the Roots: Genderfluidity as Diola’s Mangrove Fishing Strategies in Three Island-Villages of Northern Guinea-Bissau

AbstractBiodiversity loss, habitat degradation, globalization, and societal transformations are challenging rural, and especially coastal communities in Guinea-Bissau where mangrove-dependent livelihoods are exposed to increased vulnerability. The Diola, traditional farmer-fishermen of the northern island-villages, have witnessed swift societal changes following the country’s economic liberalization, climate change, and youth migration from rural areas. Despite historically being a secondary subsistence activity with more predefined gender roles rooted in tradition, mangrove fishing has become a major source of cash income. Yet, women’s mangrove fishing contributions are still overlooked, resulting in general assumptions of static female fishing identities with limited control over their income. We present three case studies of Diola women’s involvement in mangrove fishing through a mixed method approach that combines qualitative techniques and household surveys conducted between 2017 and 2023. Specifically, we explore: (1) diverging societal coping strategies and livelihood developments in three Diola villages; (2) the primary drivers behind village-specific societal transformations; (3) social dynamics and female roles in mangrove fishing-related activities and village decision-making; and (4) the political ecology of interventions. Our findings underscore the complexity of gender-fluid small-scale fishing strategies as female roles beyond fish trade defy cultural generalizations. Contemporary Diola women make autonomous personal and work choices that meet their current needs and add to their household budget to face new welfare demands. Inclusive resource governance needs more gender-specific data for meaningfully implemented interventions adapted to local circumstances, enabling an active participation of all genders in conservation practices and development.

Carrying capacity-based benchmarks for Belgian residential buildings

Environmental benchmarks are a means to stimulate lowering environmental impacts of buildings. These benchmarks may be based on a bottom-up or top-down approach. While bottom-up benchmarks are derived from the analysis of reference buildings and represent current building practice, staying within the Earth's carrying capacity requires top-down benchmarks representing long-term environmental goals. Top-down benchmarks are derived by allocating a share of the global carrying capacity to objects, e.g. buildings, using so-called sharing principles. Various sharing principles exist, which significantly influence benchmark values. This study applies a wide range of sharing principles, including novel principles, to define top-down benchmark values for Belgian residential buildings based on global carrying capacities. An environmental budget was first allocated to Belgium, then to households and finally to the housing function. In each step, multiple sharing principles were applied, resulting in 32 combinations of sharing principles. For a single-person household, the minimum and maximum budget resulting from the combinations differ by a factor 42. Based on data availability and quality as well as ethical considerations, the authors of this paper give preference to “right to development” for the allocation to Belgium; “household composition” for the allocation to households and “final consumption expenditures” for the allocation to the housing function. The comparison of the top-down benchmark values with bottom-up benchmarks reveals that various measures are required to remain within the Earth's carrying capacity. The top-down benchmark values presented in this paper can hence guide policymakers in establishing environmental targets and related roadmaps for residential buildings in Belgium.

Gender (Women-Led Households) as a Determinant of Consumption Expenditure on Food during March 2020 – A Case Study of Maharashtra

This study examines the factors influencing food expenditure in urban and rural households of Maharashtra, with a focus on gender dynamics during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. Utilizing secondary data from the Consumer Pyramid Household Survey (CPHS), the analysis employs regression techniques to investigate the impact of Adjusted Total Income, Gender Group, Age Group, Occupation Group, Education Group, and Household Size on Adjusted Food Expenditure. The results reveal that Adjusted Total Income, Age Group, Gender Group, Education Group, and Household Size are significant predictors of food expenditure, with women-led households demonstrating a crucial role in managing food resources. Women’s spending patterns reflect their prioritization of food security, particularly during economic crises, aligning with previous research highlighting their central role in household budgeting. In contrast, Occupation Group does not significantly influence food expenditure in this context. The findings underscore the importance of considering gender dynamics in food expenditure analyses and suggest that policy interventions should focus on supporting women-led households to enhance food security and manage economic disruptions effectively.

Pengembangan Literasi Ekonomi Masyarakat Desa Maryke dalam Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan melalui Pemanfaatan Sumber Daya Lokal

The Economic Literacy Development Program for Maryke Village aims to improve community welfare through the utilization of local resources, particularly in managing small businesses like broomstick production. The community’s limited understanding of economic literacy has hindered their ability to manage finances and optimize local economic potential. This research employs a qualitative methodology with a participatory approach, collecting data through observations, in-depth interviews, and group discussions with the community and local stakeholders. The results indicate that the program successfully enhanced the community’s understanding of economic literacy, particularly in financial management and business planning. Participants of the program began to manage household budgets, save regularly, and develop local resource-based businesses. Increased productivity and income were observed in the broomstick production business after the training. The program not only improved the community's awareness of the importance of economic literacy but also encouraged them to use local resources more effectively and sustainably, leading to a positive impact on their welfare.

Crowding-out effect of tobacco consumption on household food expenditures in Cameroon

This study delves into the critical issue of household budgets in Cameroon, specifically focusing on the impact of tobacco expenditure. Tobacco use often represents a significant portion of a household’s financial resources, potentially leading to a phenomenon known as the “crowding-out effect.” This effect describes a situation where increased tobacco spending leads to a decrease in the budget allocated to other essential goods and services. To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, this study employs a quantitative approach. The analysis utilizes data from a nationally representative household survey conducted in Cameroon during 2014 (ECAM4). A two-stage least squares (2SLS) technique is implemented to address a potential statistical issue known as endogeneity, which could otherwise skew the results. The study’s findings reveal a concerning trend: tobacco expenditure has a negative impact on the budget shares allocated to essential goods such as food, clothing, and household equipment. This negative impact appears to be particularly pronounced for male consumers within households. Based on these findings, the study suggested that implementing tobacco control policies could lead to significant improvements in household well-being and overall health status. These policies, by encouraging a reduction in tobacco use, could free up resources that could then be reallocated towards essential goods, ultimately improving household financial stability and health outcomes.

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.

New Trends in Migration from Kyrgyzstan to the Russian Federation

In recent decades, population migration has become one of the main components of socio-economic development of Kyrgyzstan. In recent years, Kyrgyz citizens have been working in Russia and Kazakhstan. A comparative analysis of the number and structure of flows of Kyrgyz labour migrants is carried out on the basis of data from a sample national survey of household budgets, the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the Federal Migration Service of Russia, the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, and Rosstat. The key problems of the social and legal situation of Kyrgyz migrants in Russia were identified: lack of registration at the place of stay, restriction/ ban on entry, non-payment of wages, access to medical care, and receipt of pensions. Gradually, under the influence of external and internal factors, new trends of labour migration to the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, the Republic of Korea and Japan, Europe and America have emerged. Migration flows are becoming more and more organised, as they involve the country's public authorities, private employment agencies, international companies and other actors. The study shows that the key needs for Kyrgyz migrant workers in the near future are concentrated in the following regions (in addition to traditional destinations): first, Western European countries (Great Britain and Germany); second, East Asia (Republic of Korea and Japan); third, Eastern European countries (Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria); fourth, the Middle East (Turkey and the Gulf countries); fifth, Northern Europe (Sweden and Finland). The official discourse in Kyrgyzstan is increasingly gaining momentum on the need to transform migration policy from large-scale export of labour resources to employment of surplus labour resources within the country by creating new jobs and expanding production. New ideological approaches to the transition of Kyrgyzstan from the category of countries– exporters of labour resources to the category of countries actively developing their own production and labour market are practically formed.

Analysis Of Consumer Behavior Related To The Increase In Rice After The 2024 Election In Surakarta City

This study aims to analyze consumer behavior related to the increase in rice prices after the 2024 election in Surakarta City. The increase in rice prices is often an important issue in the context of the household economy, especially for consumers in urban areas such as Surakarta. Data of this study was obtained by a survey method that includes a quantitative approach from a sample of households in various sub-districts in Surakarta City. Through the analysis of the data obtained, this study explores the impact of rising rice prices on consumption patterns, changes in household budgets, and adaptation strategies implemented by consumers. The study's conclusions demonstrate that consumer spending patterns are not considerably impacted by the rise in rice prices following the election. In addition, the economic impact of the increase in rice prices also causes changes in household budget allocations, where consumers tend to prioritize spending on other basic needs. This study provides insight into how changes in food prices affect the economic well-being of households and provides recommendations for policymakers to consider interventions that can mitigate the negative impact of food price fluctuations

Inequalities in Water Insecurity in Kenya: A Multidimensional Approach

Water insecurity is a global concern likely to be compounded by increases in population and climate change. Existing water insecurity measurement methods capture multidimensional deprivation only at regional or sub-regional levels. Such estimates do not capture heterogeneous household experiences of water supply, proximity to water sources and affordability, which can vary substantially from regional averages. Accurate measurement requires a method that captures the incidence and intensity of a household’s simultaneous deprivation in dimensions of water accessibility, affordability, sufficiency and safety. We propose such a method and assess related inequalities using an approach analogous to the Alkire–Foster methodology for multidimensional poverty. Using household-level data from the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2015/16, we find that 63% of the Kenyan population experience multiple deprivation in water access. The dimensions of water affordability and sufficiency contribute most to multidimensional water insecurity, highlighting the need to ensure an adequate supply of affordable water. Disparities by household place of residence, dwelling type, and socio-economic status are evident. The estimates of multidimensional water insecurity are robust to different deprivation and poverty cutoffs. Our analysis is an invitation to rethink water insecurity metrics, allowing water deprivation to be measured more frequently and with greater precision to understand its impact clearly.

Household Surveys Integration: Household Budget Survey methodology in Czechia

The article aims at mapping the history of the Czech version of the Household Budget Survey (HBS), i.e. Statistika rodinných účtů (SRÚ), and on the historical changes in its methodology. Statistika rodinných účtů is a survey focused mainly on private household expenditure in all the regions of the Czech Republic. The first official SRÚ survey was conducted in 1920 by the Statistical office of the former Czechoslovak Republic. This article offers a brief overview of the more than 100 years of the survey, which have been shaped significantly throughout the different eras it had underwent, both by the socio-political contexts and by the gradual technological progress. Last but not least, methodological changes which occurred in 2017 are discussed, as well as some important aspects of the present-day form of the survey.

An analysis of the contribution of the informal milk market to nutrition in Kenya

BackgroundThe dairy sector in Kenya is an important part of the agricultural GDP of the country. Its legal framework was reformed in 2004 to address the economic importance that the informal sector (i.e. trading on raw milk) had for smallholders’ producers. However, this reform was accused of being a pro-poor policy instead of focusing on the development of the formal dairy sector. In recent years, there has been pressure to go back to the pre-2004 regulatory system and to illegalize the raw milk trade. An aspect that has been absent from the discussion is the contribution that the informal market has to households’ nutrition. The contribution of this paper is to address this shortcoming using the most recent Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey for 2015–16.ResultsThe results indicate that the rural annual milk consumption (70.2 L) surpasses that of urban areas (68.8 L). These values are different to those found in the literature. County consumption varies depending on the availability of milk, which appears associated to the production capacity and the climate of the region. However, regardless of the region unpacked milk is the most consumed dairy item representing 72 per cent of the total countrywide; 84 per cent of the rural total and 55 per cent of the urban area.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the sector provides significant nutrition especially to poor economic groups. Therefore, attempting to ban the informal sector would have negative consequences for Kenya's food security, impacting mostly on the nutritional security of low-income households. In addition, the nutritional aspects that the informal dairy sector provides need to be considered alongside the economic ones in future debates regarding regulatory reforms of the sector.