Household Budget Research Articles

Remittances from the Russian Federation to the Homeland of Labor Migrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan: Еstablished Practices and Dynamic Changes

Remittances from Central Asian migrant workers from Russia to their home have been an important support for their families and the economies of their home countries for several decades. In the changing economic conditions and under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been changes in the scale and regularity of such money transfers. For this reason, information about transfers needs to be updated. In the article, the author analyzes the causes andregularity of remittances from labor migrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from the Russian Federation to their homeland, their participation in shaping and influencing decisions on household budget expenditures, including during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of citizenship and gender. The analysis was based on three sociological studies conducted by the author in Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Tambov, Orenburg) in 2014, 2015 and 2015. The research involved migrant workers from Tajikistan (n=1109), Kyrgyzstan (n=1002) and Uzbekistan (n=478). Research data show that in 2014-2020, an increasing number of labor migrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation sent money to their homeland, while the proportion of female labor migrants sending money grew rapidly. In less than half of cases, the opinion of migrant workers from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is considered when deciding how their money will be spent by their relatives in their homeland. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in the amount of funds sent by respondents to their homeland.

Assessment of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures on essential medicines for acute and chronic illness: a comparative study across regional and socioeconomic groups in India

BackgroundSubstantial out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures push a large portion of the population below the poverty line, especially those residing in rural areas having low incomes. Individuals from economically disadvantaged states in India incur higher healthcare costs for hospitalization in public health centers than do those from more developed states. Economically poorer households in states such as Bihar and Odisha face significantly higher OOP expenditures for hospitalization in public health centers than do those in economically developed states such as Tamil Nadu.ObjectiveThis study aims to compare households by using the wealth index and demographic factors concerning OOP expenditures on medicines for acute and chronic illnesses in Odisha, India.MethodologyA cross-sectional household survey was adopted to conduct the research. Access to medicines focused on OOP expenditures in Odisha is being studied by purposively selecting six districts: Rayagada, Kalahandi, Angul, Keonjhar, Khordha, and Kendrapara. A total of 902 households were surveyed. A stratified random sampling procedure was adopted to select the locations and households. The survey took place from October 2021 to February 2022. The sampled respondents were investigated for acute and chronic illnesses. The software SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. The details of the expenditures for the past four weeks were compared with those of medicines and healthcare expenses. Households were categorized into wealthy, middle, and poor classes. The prevalence of acute and chronic illnesses was analyzed in light of the share of medicine expenditures to total household expenditures.ResultsOut of 902 surveyed households, 173 (19.2%) spent out-of-pocket (OOP) money on medicines due to acute and chronic illnesses. Among the studied population, 23.7% were affected by acute illness, whereas 10.9% suffered from chronic illness. Wealthy households constituted most of the OOP expenditure (81 wealthy households), whereas 33 poor households also contributed to the OOP expenditure. According to the unadjusted odds ratio (UOR) analysis, wealthy households were 0.25 times less likely to spend more than 50% of their total monthly household budget on medicine than poor households (UOR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.09—0.65). Similarly, ST households were 0.18 times less likely to spend more than 50% of their money on medicine from their budgets than SC households (UOR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.04–0.72).ConclusionThe present study again reveals that capital regions (metropolitan regions) are well protected against OOP expenditures on medicines, but tribal areas are still underserved. The odds ratio reveals a critical positive association between high OOP and poor economic status in households in Odisha. That association must be minimized or nullified for equitable economic and social development.

Cost Associated with Adherence to the EAT-Lancet Score in Brazil.

Food prices are a crucial factor in food choices, especially for more vulnerable populations. To estimate the association between diet cost and quality, as measured by the EAT-Lancet score, across demographic groups in Brazil. Data from the 2017/18 Household Budget Survey were used to calculate the EAT-Lancet score, comprising 14 components. Scores ranged from 0 (low adherence) to 42 (high adherence), with emphasized components (e.g., vegetables, fruits, legumes) and limited components (e.g., red meat, sugar, eggs). Results were stratified by per capita income, geographic region, and area of residence and compared using linear regression adjusted for high and low costs. In addition, the association between the EAT-Lancet score (and its emphasized and limited components) and diet cost (continuous) was analyzed for the total population and for income tertiles. The mean EAT-Lancet score was 18.65 points (range: 7 to 25) and the mean diet cost was BRL$0.65/100 kcal. Total scores showed no significant difference between low- and high-cost diets. However, limited intake was more pronounced in low-cost diets, while high-cost diets featured emphasized foods such as fruits, vegetables, and seafood. High-cost diets also included sugars and red meat, while unsaturated fats scored higher in low-cost diets. Each one-point increase in the EAT-Lancet score was associated with a BRL$0.38 reduction in cost, driven by lower costs in the Limited component, especially among the lowest-income strata (reductions of BRL$1.58 and BRL$1.55 in the lowest income and middle income tertiles, respectively). However, higher scores for emphasized foods increased costs (BRL$0.89) in the lowest tertile. Higher EAT-Lancet scores were associated with reduced diet costs, likely influenced by the lower Limited component costs in low-income groups. Emphasized foods, however, tended to increase costs, particularly among the lowest-income group. These findings suggest that the role of diet composition plays a significant role in cost differences and underscore the challenges that low-income groups face in accessing affordable, healthy diets.

Sustainable Transportation Choices and Household Budgets: Exploring the Effects of Travel Conditions, Alternative Access, and Infrastructure Quality on Household Transportation Expenditures in Hermosa, Bataan, and Malolos, Bulacan

Sustainable Transportation Choices and Household Budgets: Exploring the Effects of Travel Conditions, Alternative Access, and Infrastructure Quality on Household Transportation Expenditures in Hermosa, Bataan, and Malolos, Bulacan

Labour, household budget and standard of living in urban Andalusia during the “Bolshevik Triennium”: Jaén, 1920

A noteworthy element characteristic of the majority of the mining areas was the peculiar sex ratio at the initial stage of their establishment and at times of the highest growth in the demand for labour. In general, the predominance of men in the mining area increased between 1877 and 1910, when there was a strong contribution of men from different origins with an insufficient female contribution, due partly to the type of labour and its instability. The evolution of the sex ratio in the area displayed a trend towards equilibrium in 1897, which reflects the first stabilisation of the population of the mining area with an equal proportion of men and women. From 1910, there was equilibrium in the three municipalities which show the stabilisation of the population. En este texto se propone estudiar la relación entre el presupuesto doméstico y las condiciones de vida y trabajo de la población de Jaén (Andalucía) en 1920. Con este objetivo se reconstruye el ingreso de todas las familias de la ciudad y los presupuestos domésticos de las familias nucleares con hijos menores. A partir de las declaraciones salariales registradas en las cédulas de empadronamiento usadas para la elaboración del padrón de ese año, que registran una proporción muy elevada de las ocupaciones y los ingresos de la población masculina de la ciudad, y de la reconstrucción de una cesta de la compra de respetabilidad, se determina la capacidad adquisitiva de este tipo de familia por clases sociales. Para ello se ha utilizado la clasificación ocupacional PSTi y la clasificación social HISCLASS.

Weekday-Weekend Differences in Chrononutritional Variables Depend on Urban or Rural Living.

Studies have highlighted the impact of work and school schedules on food preferences, suggesting that individuals' dietary choices may change during the week to align with their daily routines. Despite the variation in food composition in the population, there is no evidence identifying differences in food intake times and composition across the days of the week in urban/rural locations. Thus, the study's aim was to identify weekday vs. weekend differences in food intake times and composition (calories) between urban and rural areas. Data from 5770 participants (aged 18-59 years) were analyzed from the National Household Budget Survey (POF-IBGE) consisting of two distinct food diary records (weekday + weekend) per individual, including area (urban or rural) information in Brazil. During weekdays, the time of the first food intake was significantly earlier, and the last food intake time was significantly later compared to weekends, resulting in a longer eating window on weekdays in both urban and rural areas. People living in urban areas exhibited delayed first and last food intake times, resulting in later caloric and eating midpoints compared to people living in rural areas. Periodogram analysis detected weekly rhythmicity (7 days) at the time of the first food intake and the length of the eating window in urban residents. The observed 7-day rhythmic pattern of food intake in urban areas, driven by work and school schedules, underscores the influence of urbanization on dietary timing and composition. In contrast, rural areas exhibited more stable and earlier eating patterns. These results emphasize the need for public health interventions to address meal timing and circadian alignment, particularly in urban settings, to mitigate the risk of metabolic disorders and improve overall health outcomes.

Optimizing the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program in Kanrung Village, Central Sinjai District, Indonesia

This study aims to examine the implementation and impact of the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT) in Kanrung Village, Central Sinjai District. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method with data collection techniques through interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed that the implementation of the BPNT program in Kanrung Village showed high effectiveness in terms of implementation and impact on community welfare. A supportive bureaucratic structure and good coordination between various related parties contributed to the program's success. The program's positive impacts, such as reduced economic burden and improved household budget management, confirm that the BPNT program provides significant benefits to the community. This study makes a theoretical contribution in deepening the understanding of the implementation and impact of non-cash food assistance programs in villages. In addition, it practically provides recommendations for kanrung village in optimizing the Non-Cash Food Assistance program in kanrung village.

The Evolution of Dietary Consumption in the Spanish Adult Population and Its Relationship with Environmental Sustainability.

The relationship between food consumption and environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly evident. The aim of this study was to estimate the evolution of the environmental impact of food consumption in the Spanish population, assessed in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Data collected from the Household Budget Survey were included, from approximately 24,000 households for the period of 2006-2023. The environmental impact of diet, in terms of GHG emissions, was estimated from the EAT-Lancet Commission tables, and the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) was calculated using the Dietary Score index. The environmental impact of the Spanish diet, in terms of GHG, followed a downward trend over the years analysed, from 3978.1 g CO2-eq in 2006 to 3281.4 g CO2-eq in 2023, a decrease of 17.5%. The food groups with the largest decrease in consumption during this period were red meat (from 39.9 kg/year to 35.5 kg/year), fish (from 24.3 kg/year to 19.0 kg/year), and dairy products (from 113.4 kg/year to 99.7 kg/year). The level of adherence to the MedDiet increased slightly from 34 points in 2006 to 35 points in 2023 due to an increase in the amount of vegetables (42.7 kg/year vs. 44.3 kg/year) and grains consumed (53.1 kg/year vs. 72.6 kg/year) and a decrease in fish consumption (24.3 kg/year vs. 19.0 kg/year). In Spain, a reduction in GHG emissions associated with food consumption was observed due to a decrease in the consumption of red meat, fish, dairy products, and fats. National surveys are very useful tools to analyse the impact of food consumption on climate change and to assess the effect of the policies implemented to contain it.

FARMERS’ HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS COMPARED TO SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS GROUPS

The aim of the article is to diagnose the dynamics of household savings among farmers in Poland in comparison to other social groups of households. The study attempts to relate empirical findings to selected income theories. Data from the household budgets of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) were used in this analysis. It was found that the existing theories do not correspond to the savings behaviors of farming households. It can be stated that only the integration of the permanent income theory, Modigliani and Brumberg’s life-cycle hypothesis, and the relative income theory would provide an interesting alternative. Savings in farming households increased and were generally higher in the analysed years compared to households overall and wage-earning households, despite lower income levels. However, the income levels were generally lower, which means that the propensity to save is relatively high among farming households. Farming households differ from households overall and wage-earning households in that part of the accumulated savings is allocated to financing investments or current expenses in the farm. As a result, this motivates the heads of these households to save, given the widespread aversion to increasing risk associated with using external sources of financing (credits).

Food Colors’ Dietary Exposure in the Brazilian Population Using the 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 POF Food Consumption Databases

Two out of the four steps of risk assessment for chemical substances in food, i.e., exposure assessment and risk characterization, merit regional evaluation based on current legislation and local food consumption data. Therefore, mean and high exposures to food colors were estimated in Brazil using a conservative approach to screen substances with a higher risk of the exceedance of safety parameters. Brazilian National Consumption Surveys from the Household Budget Surveys (POF—Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares) from 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 were combined with the maximum permitted levels of 33 food colors. Higher exposure estimates were obtained for the oldest POF database. High priority for a refined exposure assessment was identified for six food colors for which the mean and high exposures were higher than the safety parameters, while medium priority was observed for eleven food colors for which the mean exposures were below but the high exposures were above the safety parameters. Low priority was noted for 16 substances for which no exceedance was obtained despite the conservativeness of the methodology applied. The prioritization of food colors for future risk assessments was achieved to identify substances for which more refined exposure methodologies are necessary to characterize the risk to health.

Consumption of Meat in Brazil: A Perspective on Social Inequalities and Food and Nutrition Security.

The EAT-Lancet "Planetary Health Diet" (PHD) proposes dietary recommendations to address health and environmental concerns, including reducing meat consumption. However, in Brazil, where meat holds cultural significance, the feasibility of these recommendations is questionable. This study aimed to examine meat consumption across the five Brazilian regions through the lens of the PHD, considering regionalisms and social inequalities. Using data from the 2017-2018 Household Budget Survey (POF), we estimated meat consumption. A multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between excessive meat consumption and sociodemographic factors, such as region of the country, sex, per capita income profile, and level of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS). Our results reveal that meat consumption exceeds recommendations in all Brazilian regions. To effectively promote healthier and more sustainable diets, public health interventions must consider regional disparities and the cultural significance of meat. Policies should prioritize food justice and address the underlying social and economic factors that drive meat consumption.

Gender Gaps In Financial Literacy: A Study Of English Literature Students

Financial literacy encompasses the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed financial decisions and is critical to individual and societal well-being. The gender gap in financial literacy is widespread and persistent. Using Chen and Volpe’s (1998) framework, this study aims to examine the level of financial literacy of English Literature study program students from a gender perspective. This study used a quantitative descriptive method, with data collected from 77 seventh-semester students through a validated questionnaire. The results showed an overall moderate level of financial literacy, with an average correct answer rate of 73.2%. Personal financial planning emerged as the most vital domain, while debt management was the weakest domain. Analysis from a gender perspective showed that female students had a higher average score (73.94%) than male students (69.8%), although there was more significant variability in scores among female students. These results suggest that female students generally have better financial literacy. Women are more engaged in financial literacy learning when the material is relevant to their personal or social needs, such as household budget planning and future financial security.

The Determining Initial Toll Road Tariff Based On BKBOK, ATP And WTP (Case Study : Tebing Tinggi - Pematang Siantar Toll Road Section)

The construction of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road or JTTS was initiated as a development strategy and backbone for Indonesia's strategic economic growth. One of the sections that will soon be operational in September 2024 is the Tebing Tinggi-Pematangsiantar Toll Road. Based on Indonesian Law No. 2 2022, the initial road tariff must consider 3 things: the user's ATP (Ability To Pay), the amount of vehicle operating cost benefit (BKBOK), and also the cost recovery of the investment. This study aims to determine the toll tariff based on BKBOK, ATP and WTP. VOC is calculated using the Binamarga 2005 method, VOC model Pd-T-15-2005. ATP is calculated using the Household Budget Method and WTP is calculated using a modification of Stated Preference based on 100 respondents of Class 1 vehicle owners. When calculating the amount of BKBOK, a significant difference in VOC is obtained when the vehicle passes through the toll road compared to passing through non-toll roads, which is Rp. 57,629. This study also shows that the value of travel time is IDR 24,773 per hour, and the value of travel time saving of the Golongan 1 vehicle is IDR 78,035. Travel time savings contribute more benefits than VOC savings, contributing 58% of the total benefits of Rp 135,664 received by the Group 1 toll user, or 35% more than the benefits of VOC savings. The recommended tariff to improve the service of Tebing Tinggi Pematangsiantar Toll Road is between Rp 1055 and Rp 1688 per km, or Rp 47500-Rp 76000. This tariff is willing to be paid by ± 5%-25% of motorists and able to be paid by ± 50%-85% of vehicles.

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

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. To investigate the relationship between smoking and catastrophic health expenditure in Türkiye. 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. 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%. 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.

Malnourished but Not Destitute: The Spatial Interplay Between Nutrition and Poverty in Madagascar

ABSTRACTHidden hunger is a global issue that affects an astounding 2 billion people, demanding targeted interventions for better resource allocation. However, conventional methods for identifying high‐prevalence areas often prove impractical in developing countries. This study introduces a cost‐effective and practical approach to detecting hidden hunger, combining household budget data with health surveys and applying these methods to Madagascar. By using small‐area estimation techniques, the study achieves precise commune‐level estimates, addressing the limitations of survey data representativeness. The findings challenge poverty‐based targeting, revealing that 17.9% of stunted children belong to non‐poor households. Additionally, 21.3% of non‐stunted children are found in impoverished households, supporting Sen's argument that malnutrition extends beyond destitution. The analysis further highlights key commune‐level determinants of hidden hunger, including access to healthcare, improved roads, telecommunication networks and productive agricultural activities.

Safety Net Spending on Children and the Sources of Household Income Across U.S. States, 1997–2016

High levels of poverty and economic precarity in the United States relative to other countries have led to academic and policy debates about whether welfare state investments accomplish what they are intended to. Although social safety net spending clearly has antipoverty effects at the national level, there is scant evidence on the “resource pathway” presumed to underlie the effects of the local welfare state on families with children. Which types of public investments have especially contributed to the total resources of households with children? Understanding this question at the state level is important, given dramatic variation in states’ safety net spending on children and the rise of federalism, which increases state autonomy in designing and administering social programs. Using annual data from the 1997–2016 State-by-State Spending on Kids Dataset linked to data from the Census Bureau's Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, we examine the relationship between transfer spending in states and household income sources. Findings suggest that government transfers raise the total income of households with the lowest income and educational levels and that transfer income among these households is more multidimensional than among higher resource households. Further, analyses using variation within and across states demonstrate that state-level spending in each area is associated with an increase in corresponding transfer income among non-college-educated households and those in the bottom half of the income distribution; such spending is associated with no increase (or a decrease) in transfer income among college-educated households and those in the top quarter of the income distribution. These results suggest that increases in state-level spending disproportionately benefit the budgets of households with the lowest resources and might be a promising means to reduce resource gaps between households.

Outlier detection for inequality and poverty analysis

Extreme values are common in survey data and represent a recurring threat to the reliability of both poverty and inequality estimates. The adoption of a consistent criterion for outlier detection is useful in many practical applications, particularly when international and intertemporal comparisons are involved. In this article, we discuss a simple univariate detection procedure to flag outliers. We present outdetect, a command that implements the procedure and provides useful diagnostic tools. The output of outdetect compares statistics obtained before and after the exclusion of outliers, with a focus on inequality and poverty measures. Finally, we carry out an extensive sensitivity exercise where the same outlier detection method is applied consistently to per capita expenditure across more than 30 household budget surveys. The results are clear and provide a sense of the influence of extreme values on poverty and inequality estimates.

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 environmentally 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.

Does Self-Generating Energy Technology Adoption Increase Residential Electricity Consumption Inequality in an Emerging Country? Evidence From Brazil

We identified the impact of adopting self-generating energy technologies on electricity demand in Brazil. Using the Household Budget Survey database and the unconditional quantile treatment effect estimator to analyze heterogeneous treatment effects, we find that adopting self-generating energy technologies leads to an increase in residential electricity consumption, mainly in the highest quantiles of consumption distribution, thereby imposing inequality in residential electricity consumption.

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.