Household Expenditure Survey Research Articles

Post-crisis developments in young adults’ housing wealth

How has housing wealth inequality changed for young-adult households in the post-financial crisis period, and what is driving such change? We chart a path for subsequent studies by analysing the previously unexamined post-crisis housing wealth profile of young adults via different angles and using multiple inequality measures. Using household micro-data for 11 European countries ( Household Finance and Consumption Survey, 2010–2017) and the United States ( Survey of Consumer Finances, 2010–2016), we find that the accumulation of housing assets for 22–44 year olds is unevenly concentrated among high-income homeowners, over and above what would be expected given the well-known decline in homeownership. We describe and assess several potential drivers for these wealth profile changes, finding that the current explanations offered in the literature do not adequately account for the unequal wealth profile of young people. We conclude that a mix of dynamics, including housing market volatility, housing market configurations leading to uneven capital gains and losses, and the increased social selectivity of homeownership intersect to shape the ways that young adults navigate the housing market in post-crisis times.

Household-level consumption data can be redistributed for individual-level Optifood diet modeling: analysis from four countries.

A barrier to using Optifood linear programming (LP), which identifies nutrient gaps and supports population‐specific food‐based recommendation (FBR) development, is the requirement for dietary intake data. We investigated whether Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys (HCESs) could be used instead of individual‐level 24‐h recalls (24HRs). The 24HR data from 12‐ to 23‐month‐old breastfeeding children in rural Kenya, Uganda, Guatemala, and Bangladesh were paired with HCES food consumption data from similar areas (n = 8) and time periods. HCES food intakes (g/week) were estimated using adult male equivalents, adjusted for breastfeeding. Paired HCES‐ and 24HR‐defined LP inputs and outputs were compared using percentage agreement. Mean overall percentage agreements were 42%, 63%, and 80%, for food, food subgroup, and food‐group model parameters, respectively. HCES food lists were on average 1.3 times longer than 24HR. Similar nutrient gaps (77–100% agreement), food sources of nutrients (71–100% agreement), and FBRs (80–100% agreement) were identified. The results suggest that HCES data can be used in Optifood analyses for 12‐ to 23‐month‐old children, despite recognized challenges of using it to estimate dietary intakes of young children compared with older age groups. Further analyses, however, are required for different age groups and locations to confirm expectations that it would perform equally well.

Female Labour Force Participation: What Prevents Sustainable Development Goals from Being Realised in Iran?

Elimination of the gender gap in labour force participation has become one of the main challenges of achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The rapid increase in university education and decrease in fertility rate in Iran over the past decades might affect the achievement of the SDGs. However, the country’s female labour force participation (FLFP) rate stagnates at a superficial level. The stagnating FLFP rate is inconsistent with basic labour economics supply-side explanations while drawing attention to demand-side explanations, namely, female labour demand constraints, such as occupational segregation and labour market discrimination. This study empirically investigates the effect on FLFP of primary labour supply factors along with household conditions and gender norms and attitudes for 2 specific years: 2008 and 2018. The aim is to shed light on the causes of stagnation at the FLFP level by using the Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted annually by the Statistical Center of Iran. The empirical findings suggest gender norms and attitudes towards working women and gendered division of work associated with family care as the driving forces of stagnation in FLFP in Iran.

Multidimensional Poverty Modeling for Namibia Using the Beta Distribution

Despite global efforts in alleviating poverty, many people are still living in poverty. Different methods were employed to estimate poverty with many researchers moving from monetary to multidimensional poverty modeling approach. In Namibia, very few studies have been conducted to estimate poverty in a multidimensional sense. The 2015/2016 Namibia household income and expenditure survey dataset was employed to develop multidimensional poverty indices (MPIs) using beta distribution. We showed that the MPI is equivalent to the mean of the left truncated beta distribution. The results revealed that the northern regions of Namibia are the most affected by multidimensional poverty. The results from this study can be used to identify areas that are severely affected by poverty and consequently form a basis to develop appropriate measures intended to alleviate poverty.

How will renewable energy development goals affect energy poverty in Guatemala?

Many countries have taken on ambitious but potentially costly renewable energy development goals to combat climate change. The government of Guatemala has introduced a plan to increase renewable generation capacity, while an estimated 76% of Guatemalans are energy poor. In this paper, we evaluate the trade-offs between alleviating energy poverty and achieving renewable energy goals in Guatemala. We present a framework that combines an electricity cost model with a household expenditure survey to assess the effects that a national renewable energy development goal could have on energy poverty through added electricity expenditures. We find that the development of new renewable electricity generation has potential to significantly increase tariffs for residential electricity consumers across the country, whereby 80% of municipalities could experience more than one-third increase in monthly energy expenditures. More importantly, we find that the distribution of impacts will not be equal everywhere: households in the western, rural part of Guatemala that are already energy stressed will likely experience the greatest cost burdens because natural resource availability is low while overall poverty is already high. In addition, we compare the costs of renewable versus fossil fuel development and find that the least-cost policy in Guatemala includes a mix of both renewable and fossil technologies.

A Typology of Food Environments in the Pacific Region and Their Relationship to Diet Quality in Solomon Islands.

Extensive literature describes the importance of food environments (FEs) as a driver of food choices and nutrition outcomes; yet existing FE frameworks do not adequately capture the diversity of FEs relevant to the Pacific Region. This limits identification of opportunities in food systems to reduce the multiple burden of malnutrition. We present a conceptual typology of FEs including six primary FEs relevant in the Pacific; wild; cultivated; kin and community; informal retail; formal retail; and food aid and services. We then apply this typology to food acquisition data from Solomon Islands 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey and analyse the relationship between FEs and diet quality. The cultivated FE accounts for 60% of the quantity of food acquired nationally, followed by wild (15%), kin and community (9%), and formal and informal retail FEs (8% each), with wide variation between urban and rural households, provinces and wealth groups. Reliance on different FEs is a significant predictor of diet quality and affirms the importance of subsistence fisheries and agriculture, and community and kinship networks. Integration of a FE typology such as the one presented here in commonly conducted household expenditure surveys offers significant opportunity to advance our understanding of food system leverage points to improve nutrition and health.

Intergenerational equity by educational attainments in France

This article analyses the development of inequalities across the lifespan and generations in France using a pseudo-panel developed from successive waves of the French Household Expenditure Survey that took place between 1979 and 2011. The standard of living of individuals, evaluated using individualised disposable income or private consumption, including housing costs, is decomposed by sex and educational attainment. Our Age-Period-Cohort models reveal that men with lower education levels who were born after 1950 experienced a significant decline in disposable income compared to those born between 1918 and 1950. Conversely, we observe no decline in disposable income when the whole population of men is considered. The evolution is rather different for women: those with lower education levels did not experience any decline, whereas the overall population of women benefitted from a strong increase in disposable income across generations.

Impacts of firewood burning for cooking on respiratory health and healthcare utilisation: Empirical evidence from Sri Lankan micro-data.

Despite escalating income levels of Sri Lankan households, 70.3% of them still depend on firewood for cooking. This might lead to bad respiratory health and thereby, increased healthcare utilisation. With this backdrop, this paper examines how firewood burning for cooking influences respiratory health and healthcare utilisation of Sri Lankans. The study proposes a theoretical model to explain effects of firewood burning on respiratory health and healthcare utilisation and empirically tests it using nation-wide micro-data of 79,170 individuals belonging to 21,748 households. The data are drawn from the most recent wave of Sri Lankan household income and expenditure survey. After addressing potential endogeneity by applying instrumental variable regression models, the study finds that firewood burning increases households' probability of asthma prevalence by 10.9 percentage points (P<0.001), out-patient care utilisation by 33.1 percentage points (P<0.001), and in-patient care utilisation by 17.5 percentage points (P<0.001), on average. Our individual level analysis demonstrates that females are more vulnerable to bad respiratory health induced by firewood burning (β=0.055, P<0.001) compared to males (β=0.008, P>0.1). The results imply policies on promoting improved-cooking stoves, separated-kitchen designs, and switching more towards cleaner energy sources, including LP gas and solar power.

Homeownership regimes and class inequality among young adults

In this study, we merge the literature on homeownership regimes, which focuses to a lesser extent on the consequences of wealth and social inequality, with the literature on wealth and social stratification, which overlooks the importance of homeownership regimes in contributing to those inequalities. Within this framework, we examine to what extent homeownership regimes shape class inequality in homeownership among young adults and the mortgage debt burden that usually accompanies it. We first develop an updated typology of homeownership regimes that incorporates the role of the family via intergenerational wealth transfers (IWT) such as gifts and housing assets. This dimension was theoretically underdeveloped and empirically absent from previous homeownership typologies. Second, we employ this typology to investigate class-based gaps in homeownership and mortgage debt burden within and between homeownership regimes. This is done by pooling data for a total of 20 countries from two sources: the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) 2013–2014 (EuroStat) for EU countries, and the Household Expenditure Survey 2012–2013 (CBS) for Israel. Using multivariate modeling, we find that homeownership regimes in which IWT in the form of financial support is common practice increase class inequality in homeownership compared to regimes in which IWT of assets is common practice. Contrary to the literature suggesting that liberal mortgage markets advance inclusion, it appears that in the homeownership regime characterized by the most liberal housing finance system (which includes Northern European countries and the Netherlands), class inequality in mortgaged homeownership is the widest but class inequality in mortgage debt burden is the narrowest. Homeownership regimes characterized by IWT of assets (which include Southern and Central Eastern European countries) reveal the opposite patterns. We discuss the implications of our findings for the literature on homeownership regimes and wealth inequality, with a specific focus on young adults.

Estimation of Almost Ideal Demand System on Food Expenditure in Erbil inYear 2012

Based on household expenditure survey data for Erbil governorate in year (2012), the food expenditure function have been estimated via applying (OLS) method. The study sample constitutes of (1933) households by using Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model. Then, expenditure and price elasticity of food demand have been derived from the estimated model after subjecting to traditional criteria. Overall the results were satisfactory, especially the compatibility of the sizes and signs of the elasticity, with theoretical and previous expectations. So, the results showed that there are another non-economic factors exists which effect on the food expenditure significantly like household size and its composition. Finally, the results have been used to predict the future demand on food. At the end of the study numbers of proposals and conclusions have been outlined, based on the estimated results.

A global overview of developments of urban and rural household GHG footprints from 2005 to 2015

Household greenhouse-gas footprints (HGFs) are an important source of global emissions but can vary widely between urban and rural areas. These differences are important during the ongoing rapid, global, urbanization process. We provide a global overview of HGFs considering this urban-rural divide. We include 16 global regions, representing 80% of HGFs and analyze the drivers of urban and rural HGFs between 2005 and 2015. We do this by linking multi-regional input-output (MRIO) tables with household consumption surveys (HCSs) from 43 regions. Urban HGFs from high-income regions continue to dominate, at 75% of total HGFs over 2010–2015. However, we find a significant increase of rural HGFs (at 1% yr−1), reflecting a convergent trend between urban and rural HGFs. High-income regions were responsible for the majority of urban HGFs (USA: 27.8% and EU: 18.7% in 2015), primarily from transport and services, while rural HGFs were predominately driven in emerging regions (China: 24% and India: 21.8% in 2015) mainly driven by food and housing. We find that improving emission intensities do not offset the increase in HGFs from increasing consumption and population during the period. A broad transition of expenditure from food to housing in rural areas and to transport in urban areas highlights the importance of reducing the emission intensities of food, housing, and transportation. Counterintuitively, urbanization increased HGFs in emerging regions, resulting in a >1% increase in China, Indonesia, India and Mexico over the period, due to large migrations of people moving from rural to urban areas.

Modeling food fortification contributions to micronutrient requirements in Malawi using Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys.

Large‐scale food fortification may be a cost‐effective intervention to increase micronutrient supplies in the food system when implemented under appropriate conditions, yet it is unclear if current strategies can equitably benefit populations with the greatest micronutrient needs. This study developed a mathematical modeling framework for comparing fortification scenarios across different contexts. It was applied to model the potential contributions of three fortification vehicles (oil, sugar, and wheat flour) toward meeting dietary micronutrient requirements in Malawi through secondary data analyses of a Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey. We estimated fortification vehicle coverage, micronutrient density of the diet, and apparent intake of nonpregnant, nonlactating women for nine different micronutrients, under three food fortification scenarios and stratified by subpopulations across seasons. Oil and sugar had high coverage and apparent consumption that, when combined, were predicted to improve the vitamin A adequacy of the diet. Wheat flour contributed little to estimated dietary micronutrient supplies due to low apparent consumption. Potential contributions of all fortification vehicles were low in rural populations of the lowest socioeconomic position. While the model predicted large‐scale food fortification would contribute to reducing vitamin A inadequacies, other interventions are necessary to meet other micronutrient requirements, especially for the rural poor.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Food Insecurity among Mexican University Students' Households.

Household food insecurity (FI) remains a major public health challenge worldwide. Data about perceived FI and its risk factors in Mexican university students are lacking. We aimed to assess FI’s prevalence and factors affecting it among university students’ households in Mexico. This cross-sectional analysis involved 7671 university students’ households using the 2018 Mexican National of Household Income and Expenditure Survey data. Variables analyzed included sociodemographic characteristics, and the 12-item validated Mexican Scale for Food Security (EMSA). Multivariable logistic regression modelling was performed to identify FI risk factors. The overall household FI prevalence was 30.8%. According to FI severity, prevalence rates were 16.3% for mild-FI, 8.8% for moderate-FI, and 5.7% for severe-FI. Low socioeconomic status (OR = 2.72; 95%CI: 2.09–3.54), low education level of household’s head (OR = 2.36; 95%CI: 1.90–2.94), self-ascription to an indigenous group (OR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.41–1.79), attending public university (OR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.13–1.43), female-headed household (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.13–1.40), having worked recently (OR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.07–1.33), and being in second year of studies (OR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.03–1.33), were significantly related to FI. Our results confirm that FI is highly prevalent among Mexican university students’ households and that sociodemographic factors are essential in addressing this concern. Findings highlight the need for preventive programs and policies to alleviate FI.

Coeficiente de Engel y calidad dietaria en hogares argentinos habitados por adultos mayores (2004-2018)

Background and objectivesTo determine if there were alterations in the proportion of spending that Argentine households of older adults spend on the purchase of food (Engel's coefficient) and other goods and services, as well as to evaluate the dietary quality of the members of these households. Materials and methodsFrom the last three waves of the National Household Expenditure Survey (2004-2005, 2012-2013 and 2017-2018) those households in the province of Buenos Aires inhabited by older adults are filtered and carried out. Median difference tests for the proportion of spending these households spend on food and other goods and services. In turn, the per capita quantities acquired from 17 food groups are compared with the quantities recommended in the dietary guidelines for the Argentine population. ResultsA statistically significant reduction is found in the median of the proportion of spending that older adults in the province of Buenos Aires spend on the purchase of food, in combination with a statistically significant increase in the proportion of spending directed to equipment and operation home, education and various services. However, the amounts purchased of milk and yogurt and vegetables A and B are insufficient in relation to those recommended, while the consumption of meat is excessive. ConclusionsAlthough economic theory would interpret a reduction in the Engel coefficient as an indication of improved well-being, it should be taken into account that these households might not be following an optimal diet if they consumed the amounts of food that they claim to buy.

Whole egg powder makes nutritious diet more affordable for Ethiopia: A cost of the diet and affordability analysis.

Despite sustained nutrition education, consumption of animal source foods (ASFs) has been hindered by their low availability, accessibility and affordability. Drying eggs into powder can reduce transport/storage costs, increase shelf-life and allow easier dosage for use of smaller portions. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of integrating egg powder to the nutrient adequacy and affordability of diets. Using the 'cost of the diet' analysis, we simulated the incorporation of egg powder into households' and children's diet and evaluated its contribution to the nutrient adequacy and affordability of diets. Analysis of the household consumption and expenditure survey (HCES 2016) revealed that only 0.2% of the total consumption expenditure was allocated for eggs, far below the 2.2% and 4.3% required to allow the consumption of one egg a day by the average and the poorest households, respectively. However, the minimum-cost nutritious diet required only 2.5 g of egg powder/person/day to reduce the cost of the optimized diet by 14% (0-24%), allowing an additional 1.2 million households (~4-6 million individuals) afford the optimized diet. The optimized diet for a child 6-23 months of age could be afforded by all households, except by those in the poorest wealth quintile. But, free distribution of egg powder to households in the poorest wealth quintile, if supplemented by effective nutrition education, can allow them to afford the minimum-cost nutritious diet for their 6- to 23-month child. The simple dehydration of egg into egg powder can have a substantial contribution towards increased egg consumption by increasing the affordability of the minimum-cost nutritious diet.

Multidimensional energy poverty in Bangladesh and its effect on health and education: A multilevel analysis based on household survey data

This study aims to identify the incidence and intensity of multidimensional energy poverty and its relationship with the health and education status of households in Bangladesh based on the latest three available household income and expenditure survey (HIES) waves of 2005, 2010, and 2016. In doing so, we first calculate the multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI) for the context of Bangladesh, and the findings suggest that multidimensional energy poverty has been decreasing over the years––53.79%, 43.51%, and 36.33% during 2005, 2010, and 2016, respectively. Furthermore, the empirical results provide robust evidence that multidimensional energy poverty is negatively associated with the health and education status of households. Finally, this study calls for comprehensive policy response congenial with reliable energy accessibility, irrespective of location, and increased affordability of energy for all groups of users.

Effect of a conditional cash transference program on food insecurity in Mexican households: 2012-2016.

To estimate the effects of the social inclusion programme PROSPERA on food insecurity (FI) in Mexican households during 2012 and 2016. Quasi-experimental study using cross-sectional data from 2012 to 2016 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey - Socioeconomic Conditions Module (in Spanish, ENIGH-MCS). Data were used from a 2012 sample of 56888 Mexican households (representative of 31206819 households) and a 2016 sample of 70263 Mexican households (representative of 33445353 households). Severity of FI was estimated with the Mexican Food Security Scale (in Spanish, EMSA). The statistical analysis estimated a differences in differences (DD) model weighted by propensity score to compare program beneficiary and non-beneficiary households in 2012 than in 2016. We estimated the effect on households with and without children (< 18 years of age). We also compared this model to a DD model without propensity score weighting. Mexican households. FI among all beneficiary households decreased 8·0pp as compared to non-beneficiary households over the study period. In beneficiary households with children, this decrease was 6·0pp and for beneficiary households without children, this decrease was 12·9pp (for all, P-value < 0·001). The PROSPERA program had a positive effect on FI reduction at the household level through increasing food access, which usually improves nutritional outcomes in vulnerable Mexican populations.

Internal Rate of Return on Investment in Higher Education in Europe

Abstract The study aims to update the well-settled issue in literature of rate of return on investment in higher education in Europe. The proposed approach slightly modifies the existing methodology based on the Mincer equation, using an updated set of data for the period 2014–2016 from the European Central Bank's ‘Household Finance and Consumption Survey’. The results obtained, ranging between 13% and 21%, are higher compared to historical records for the years 1996–2013. As for the microeconometric estimates of the Mincer-type equation, they are sound and comparable, although showing higher margins in relation to the recent figures. Thus, they may suggest an increasing trend in valuation and importance of human capital based on high school degree, especially for the Central–Eastern European Union countries, resulting probably from rapid economic and cultural convergence.

DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED EU COUNTRIES

Household debt has been increasing in the last decades, and it poses a threat not only to the financial stability of households but is a precursor of the economic and financial crisis. A downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic is expected to deepening inequalities, mainly due to the inability of households to repay existing debts or finance basic living needs. Understanding the determinants of household indebtedness and financial vulnerability is crucial for policymakers who process measures to prevent increasing household indebtedness. This paper investigates the determinants of household financial vulnerability in euro area countries using the Household Finance and Consumption Survey micro-dataset collected by the European Central Bank. The quantitative approach was applied using ordinary least square and quantile estimation procedures. The difference between OLS and quantile estimations showed the appropriateness of using the quantile regression approach. Performance analysis proved that only the number of elderly and the value of wealth and existence of mortgage interest tax relief statistically significant affects the level of vulnerability in all three waves. While the increasing number of elderly and greater value of household wealth lowers the vulnerability, the effect of mortgage interest tax relief differs across individual waves. All other used factors are essential and statistically significant for the financial vulnerability of households as well, but the importance and significance could differ across the distribution and individual waves. The effect of financial assets, education, and employment were found to be negative in all observations of all waves. On the other hand, the number of children and the value of households’ real assets is associated with increased financial vulnerability indicators.

자녀의 수가 가구의 주거비 지출에 미치는 영향 - 유사 연령대의 무자녀가구와 미성년자녀가 있는 가구의 비교 연구 -

As the severe low birthrate continues, the Korean government enforces housing policies for married-couple households with children, which include preferential housing supply or housing mortgage loan Interest based on the number of children. Despite the huge budget for housing support, there is a lack of research about the difference in housing costs depending on the number of children. This study examined the impact of the number of children on the housing expenditure. This study analyzes the microdata of 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey and selected items related to housing costs. Schwabe index, the proportion of housing costs to the total expenditure of households, was compared. Results show that the proportion of housing expenditure decreased as the number of children increased, especially from households without a child to with two children. The proportion of housing expenditure might decrease as other child-related expenses such as childcare and education increased as the number of children grows. Households with a greater number of children lived in a relatively better quality of housing and had higher housing stability. However, households with three or more children were relatively vulnerable to the quality of housing and housing stability than those with two children. This study provides the characteristics of housing expenditure according to the number of children, which can be used as basic data for establishing housing policy to satisfy various households with children.