Household Utility Research Articles

A Comparative Mathematical Study of the Relationship Between Marginal Social Cost and Pigouvian Tax in the Presence of Commodity and Wage Taxes: Putting Ramsey theorem into Practice

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between Pigouvian tax and marginal social cost in the presence of distortionary taxes such as commodity and wage taxes in a Ramsey setting. The Ramsey theory highlights the amount of tax required to raise a given revenue for the government which also maximizes household utility. Previous research in this regard has been carried out either under homogeneous household preferences or constant marginal social cost. In this paper we go further by analyzing the relationship between Pigouvian tax and marginal social cost in the presence of commodity taxes when households have heterogeneous preferences as opposed to being assumed homogeneous. In addition, we also consider the relationship between Pigouvian tax and marginal social cost in the presence of wage tax when the marginal social cost is considered as a variable depending on Pigouvian tax as opposed to being considered a constant in previous literature. The results indicate that the Pigouvian tax in the presence of wage tax is higher when the marginal social cost was considered a variable as opposed to a constant. Under certain conditions, in the presence of commodity taxes it was observed that the value of the Pigouvian tax is higher when households have heterogeneous preferences as opposed to homogeneous preferences. The mathematical models used in this study enable to see the factors, such as homogeneity/heterogeneity of household preferences and marginal social cost assumed as a variable as opposed to a constant, that impact the dynamics in determining the optimal Pigouvian tax.
 Keywords: Ramsey Theory, Pigou Tax, Marginal Social Cost, Lagrange Multiplier

Tweedie Model for Predicting Factors Associated with Distance Traveled to Access Inpatient Services in Kenya

Aim. This study aims to examine which factors influence the distance traveled by patients for inpatient care in Kenya. Methods. We used data from the fourth round of the Kenya Household Health Expenditure and Utilization survey. Our dependent variable was the self-reported distance traveled by patients to access inpatient care at public health facilities. As the clustered data were correlated, we used the generalized estimating equations approach with an exchangeable correlation under a Tweedie distribution. To select the best-fit covariates for predicting distance, we adopted a variable selection technique using the Q I C u and R 2 criteria, wherein the lowest (highest) value for the former (latter) is preferred. Results. Using data for 451 participants from 47 counties, we found that three-fifths were admitted between 1 and 5 days, two-thirds resided in rural areas, and 90% were satisfied with the facilities’ service. Wealth quintiles were evenly distributed across respondents. Most admissions (81%) comprised < 15, > 65, and 25–54 years. Many households were of medium size (4–6 members) and had low education level (48%), and nine-tenths had no access to insurance. While two-thirds reported employment-based income, the same number reported not having cash to pay for inpatient services; 6 out of 10 paid over 3000 KES. Thus, differences in employment, ability to pay, and household size influence the distance traveled to access government healthcare facilities in Kenya. Interpretation. Low-income individuals more likely have large households and live in rural areas and, thus, are forced to travel farther to access inpatient care. Unlike the unemployed, the employed may have better socioeconomic status and possibly live near inpatient healthcare facilities, thereby explaining their short distances to access these services. Policymakers must support equal access to inpatient services, prioritize rural areas, open job opportunities, and encourage smaller families.

Fingerprint Based Smart Home Automation and Security System

Wireless Controlled by Voice Automation in the Home Based on Bluetooth, a project that is moving forward with cell (application) in addition to giving the workspace to the elderly and injured, so they may control household utilities. Voice interest is based on their phone. The gadget is disguised in such a manner that it will be quick to pass on, present, figure out, run, and keep up with the dark person. Wires for house automation are also utilized to interconnect the many electrical equipment that are used in a home. This work may be run with a variety of options, such as a fingerprint sensor that will lock and unlock the door, or any other security system that will be installed in a home or business. And a leakage detector will track the system, and if it detects a leak, an automated SMS will be delivered to the user through GSM.

The Effect of COVID-19 on Household Utilities Consumption

The Effect of COVID-19 on Household Utilities Consumption

The Effect of COVID-19 on Household Utilities Consumption

The Effect of COVID-19 on Household Utilities Consumption

No One Size Fits All. Women Commercial Farm Employment and Fertility in Ethiopia: A Study of Saudi Star and MERTI Agricultural Development Farms☆

AbstractModern agricultural farms offer huge potential in creating employment opportunities, which, in turn, are expected to reduce fertility. The Ethiopian government has recently leased out millions of hectares of farmland to investors under highly concessionary terms. However, little is known regarding women's farm employment effect on their fertility. Using survey data, this paper analyzed this link in the context of Saudi Star and Merti Agricultural Development farms. Results showed lower odds of fertility intention among employed women compared to non‐employed women where employment is measured more broadly. This result at a glance appears to be consistent with conventional theory which considers children as resulting from parental choice relative to other essential household goods constrained by resource shortages in the household's utility maximization framework. Where employment is measured rather narrowly (standard way) as in most socioeconomic research, however, the odds of fertility intention is higher. The two results were expected to be reversed since fertility was expected to be lower where employment is measured more narrowly than broadly where a range of employments are included. Additionally, effects associated with the recent establishment of Saudi Star farm compared to the more matured farms in Merti are likely to reduce fertility intention.

Optimal Operation of Automotive Electrical System with Photovoltaic Generation and Three-level Battery Management Scheme

Abstract: For many years, the electrical power requirements in Automotive Electrical System (AES) have been quickly increasing and are predicted to continue to climb. This trend is being pushed by the introduction of a slew of new vehicle features. The constant growth in power needs is stretching the limitations of current automotive power generation and control technologies, stimulating the development of higher-power and higher-voltage electrical systems and components. Electrical power on a vehicle is not free. It comes as a direct result of consuming fuel within the engine to drive the alternator. With a typical engine efficiency of 44% and with present fuel costs this leads to onboard electrical power costs 4 times more than a typical household utility rate. Global oil and gas resource depletion, as well as environmental concerns, have prompted the automobile industry to build more efficient and eco-friendly cars in order to minimize fuel use and safeguard the environment. In our proposed Automotive Electrical system configuration, we have an AES system which is powered by an automotive alternator and battery combination where the alternator is driven by an IC engine and we have a hybrid energy system using a Rooftop PV array with a battery management system (BMS). We discovered that during the off state, the whole load of the automobile is dependent on the 12Vlead acid battery for power, which causes the SOC to drop dramatically. As a result, the suggested model will include a flexible thin-film solar PV module positioned on the rooftop, which will be supported by a Maximum Power Point (MPPT) Tracking charge controller and will deliver energy to recharge the extra battery and meet the electrical requirements when the vehicle is stationary. When the vehicle is in motion, the existing alternator in the car's electrical system takes over the battery charging requirements, by this way, we can meet the electrical requirements of AES without running the engine for a long time by consuming fuel. The proposed model specialty is investigated using MATLAB/Simulink and compared with existing methods. Keywords: Automotive Electrical System (AES), Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Hybrid Energy System, Rooftop PV array, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).

1,2-Disubstituted 1,2-Dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dione as a Dynamic Covalent Bonding Unit at Room Temperature.

Dynamic covalent bonds are useful tools in a wide range of applications. Although various reversible chemical reactions have been studied for this purpose, the requirement for harsh conditions, such as high temperature and low or high pH, to activate generally stable covalent bonds limits their potential applications involving biomolecules or household utilization. Here, we report the design, synthesis, characterization, and dynamic covalent bonding properties of 1,2-disubstituted 1,2-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dione (TETRAD). Hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of TETRAD with furan derivatives and their retro-reactions proceeded rapidly at room temperature under neutral conditions, enabling a chemically induced sol-gel transition system.

Health insurance and Out of Pocket health care expenditure in Kenya

Aim/purpose – The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of health insurance on Out-of-Pocket (OOP) health care expenditure in Kenya. It is informed by persistence in the challenges of access and utilization of quality and affordable health care services. Previously, researchers have estimated the effects of different forms of health care fi- nancing on its demand and shown that affordability not only enhances access and use of health services but also cushions people against adverse financial risks associated with catastrophic health care spending. Design/methodology/approach – The study used the Kenya Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey (KHHEUS) 2013 data, and employed the two-part model estimation approach. The sample size considered in the estimation was 6,961 with the unit of analysis being an individual household member. Findings – The overall results of this study showed that having a health insurance cover did not exclude one from using OOP payments. However, the probability of such spend- ing was low for people with insurance compared to those without insurance. Additionally, if any cash was paid for any health care service, having insurance did not have a significant effect on the level of that spending. Research implications/limitations – The findings of this study imply that uptake of health insurance does not fully cushion people from both using cash payments when seek- ing health services and ramifications of catastrophic health care spending. The study how- ever, encountered challenges of unavailability of more recent data in the KHHEUS series. In addition, the sample size was relatively small to the population after data cleaning. Originality/value/contribution – Potential effect of health insurance on OOP health care payments had not been explored in Kenya. As such, this study filled this gap. In addition, the two-part model estimation technique was also employed with the latest household health survey data. Keywords: health insurance, Out-of-Pocket, health care, two-part model, Kenya. JEL Classification: I13, I14.

Predictors of Stunting and Underweight Among Children Aged 6 to 59 months in Bussi Islands, Wakiso District, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background:Child undernutrition is a major public health concern in Uganda that can lead to increased risks of death with its prevalence higher in rural hard-to-reach areas than in urban areas. While it is assumed that the prevalence will be more concerning in islands with restricted accessibility to healthcare resources, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence and associated factors of stunting and underweight among children in Bussi Islands of Uganda. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of stunting and underweight among children aged 6 to 59 months in Bussi Islands of Wakiso District in Uganda.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bussi Islands of Wakiso District. Sociodemographic and anthropometric measurements were obtained for randomly sampled 409 caretaker-child pairs from 409 households. Data was collected using pre-tested structured electronic questionnaires validated by the Uganda Ministry of Health. Anthropometric indices were calculated using ENA-SMART version 2011 and data analysis was conducted using STATA version 14. Modified Poisson regression was used to generate Unadjusted and Adjusted Prevalence Ratios (APRs) with 95% confidence intervals.Results:Prevalence of stunting and underweight among children in Bussi Islands were 29.8% and 16.1%, respectively. Independent predictors of stunting included: suffering from diarrhea (APR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.5); household food insecurity (APR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.4); and child age of 12 to 23 months and 24 to 35 months (APR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 4.0 and APR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.6 respectively). Protective factors against stunting were not suffering from measles (APR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.92); receiving deworming tablets every 6 months (APR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.81); and daily household utilization of more than 80 L of water (APR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.95). Predictors of underweight were suffering from diarrhea (APR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4, 3.4) and having more than 9 household members (APR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.1, 7.5).Conclusions:Child stunting and underweight are prevalent public health problems in Bussi Islands of Wakiso District. Therefore, the study suggests that nutrition interventions in the Islands should focus on childhood vaccination, family planning, sufficient safe water coverage, household food security, and health education of child caretakers on optimal infant and young child feeding and development.

Editorial Volume 8 Issue 1 (January 2022)

Editorial Volume 8 Issue 1 (January 2022)

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Maternal and neonatal mortality are largely caused by delays in attending to obstetric complications and this is attributed to limited women’s power in making decisions regarding household resources and utilisation of health care services. This requires effective implementation of male engagement interventions to improve women’s autonomy in making decisions and hence reduce delays in attending to obstetric complications. This study examines the contribution of male engagement interventions in promoting women’s autonomy in decision making within households and society. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic and household characteristics, women’s practices concerning prenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care, and related decision-making power. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings show a significant difference in decision making autonomy regarding family planning methods among respondents who had received male engagement education versus those who had not received such education (p-0.001<1%). Again, there was significant participation of women in household purchases for daily needs (p-0.057<10%) and in decisions to work out of homes (p-0.015<5%). This trend was noted among respondents who had received male engagement education as compared to those who had not received such education. There was also greater engagement of women in decision making concerning major household purchases and their health care, although their engagement was not statistically significant (p-0.397>10% and p-0.293>10% respectively). Effective implementation of male engagement interventions may leverage men’s power within households and promote women’s autonomy in decision making, thereby improving healthcare-seeking behaviour.

Household ICT Utilization and Food Security Nexus in Nigeria.

The study examines the nexus between household ICT utilization and food security in Nigeria, which supports goal 2 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aims to “end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” The study employs the logit regression to wave 4 of Living Standard Measurement Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMS) data for the empirical analysis. Based on the analysis, the study finds that for male household, ICT utilization has a statistically significant and positive nexus with food security. In contrast, for the female households, an insignificant and, however, negative nexus is observed with food security in Nigeria. Furthermore, the findings show that for male household users, a 1 percent increase in male household ICT utilization spurs about 0.68 percent increase in food security in Nigeria. The findings imply that among the male and female household ICT users, the male household ICT utilization is significantly contributes to food security in Nigeria. The study recommends that relevant stakeholders take strategic measures to ensure that the potentials of household ICTs be fully maximized to contribute to food security in the nearest future as confirmed by studies in other regions.

Pro-rich Inflation and Optimal Income Taxation

We study the implications of an increase in the price of necessities, which disproportionally hurts the poor, for optimal income taxation. When the government is utilitarian and disutility from labor supply is linear, the optimal nominal taxes and transfers are unchanged as households supply more labor to secure their consumption expenditures. Quantitative analyses with convex disutility of labor supply reveal that, because of positive labor supply effects, keeping average tax rates constant suffices to optimally react to the asymmetric price shock. The poorest agents increase their labor supply the most. Thus, optimal income tax policy in response to asymmetric price changes does not prevent the disproportional decline in the indirect utility of poorer households.

Economic valuation of attributes of Lake Tana: random parameter model

The general objective of the study is estimating economic value of Lake Tana attributes using stated preference method of valuation in general and choice experiment method in particular. The target population was households who live around Lake Tana. The study has identified four attributes of Lake Tana (Water quality, fishery, irrigation, and recreation). The study has formulated three alternatives in which two of them were improved whereas the one is the status quo. Each attribute has three levels. The study has surveyed 238 households which were selected using multistage sampling method. Each respondent was presented with eight choice sets. Each choice set has three alternatives including opt option. The study has employed random parameter logit model for data analysis. In line with this model the study has conducted the extended random parameter logit model. The status quo (ASC0) is negative and significant both in random parameter logit model but positive and insignificant in extended random parameter logit model. This means that households have preferred the improved situation of the Lake Tana. This indicates that households are willing to pay to improve the current situation of the lake. Random parameter logit model shows that all improved attributes have positive sign and significant at 1% significance level. This means that improved situation of attributes that are identified by this study improve utility of households. Government should protect Lake Tana from any problem by raising funds from households since households are willing to pay to improve Lake Tana's attributes.

COVID-19 water and electricity subsidies in Ghana: How do the poor benefit?

This paper investigates the extent of welfare distribution amongst households in Ghana due to the government's subsidies on electricity and water as part of its relief package to households on the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study seeks to induce policy discussions on effective targeting and the consequential welfare distribution of subsidy interventions in Ghana. Subsidising the price of basic household necessities is expected to immensely benefit the poor whose expenditure is largely occupied by these necessity goods, but, as pertains in developing countries, schemes for effective targeting of the poor are nearly non-existent. This mostly leads to misalignments in income redistribution that is eventually anti-poor. Data from Ghana Living Standard Survey (seventh wave) which captures household final expenditure on goods and services in 2017, including electricity and water, is used for the analysis. First, we simulate household consumption changes as a result of the pandemic on the 2017 data, using on real-time information in the course of the pandemic on household income and expenditure changes. Next, we estimate a complete demand system for all households, and their elasticities of demand for electricity, water and food using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System model. Using the computed elasticities, Taylor's approximations are then used to simulate consumer welfare in the form of compensating variation (CV) from price changes due to government subsidies. Our results indicate that the imposed subsidies promote consumer welfare of all households, especially, households living in rural areas. The blanket subsidy on water better identified the poor and the lifeline households than the subsidy on electricity which had a yardstick for targeting. However, we find that the subsidies on the household utilities are regressive in the sense that lifeline consumer households and the poorest households in both urban and rural areas are rather less advantaged in welfare redistribution in both subsidies.

What Drives Outpatient Care Costs in Kenya? An Analysis With Generalized Estimating Equations.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with outpatient expenses incurred by households in Kenya.Background: The problem of outpatient healthcare expenses incurred by citizens in countries with limited resources has received little attention. Thus, this study aimed to determine the predictors of household spending on outpatient expenses in Kenya.Method: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on households in Kenya using data from the 2018 Kenya Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey. We applied the generalized estimating equations method to determine the best subset of predictors of outpatient care cost.Findings: The best predictors of outpatient care expenses in Kenya are age, wealth index, and education level of the household head.Conclusions: There were no differences regarding age in the mean spending on outpatient care. Moreover, we found that the cost of outpatient care changes with age in a sinusoidal manner. We observed that rich households spent more on outpatient care, mostly owing to their financial ability. Households whose heads reported primary or secondary school education level spent less on outpatient costs than households headed by those who never went to school.

Comparative Mathematical Study of the Relationship Between Marginal Social Cost and Pigouvian Tax in the Presence of Commodity and Wage Taxes: Putting Ramsey Theorem into Practice

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between the Pigouvian tax and marginal social cost in the presence of distortionary taxes such as commodity and wage taxes in a Ramsey setting. The Ramsey theory highlights the amount of tax required to raise a given revenue for the government which also maximizes household utility. Previous research in this regard has been carried out either under homogeneous household preferences or a constant marginal social cost. In this paper we go further by analyzing the relationship between Pigouvian tax and marginal social cost in the presence of commodity taxes when households have heterogeneous preferences as opposed to being assumed homogeneous. In addition, we also consider the relationship between Pigouvian tax and marginal social cost in the presence of wage tax when the marginal social cost is considered as a variable depending on Pigouvian tax as opposed to being considered a constant in previous literature. The results indicate that the Pigouvian tax in the presence of wage tax is higher when the marginal social cost was considered a variable as opposed to a constant. Under certain conditions, in the presence of commodity taxes it was observed that the value of the Pigouvian tax is higher when households have heterogeneous preferences as opposed to homogeneous preferences. The mathematical models used in this study enable to see the factors, such as homogeneity/heterogeneity of household preferences and marginal social cost assumed as a variable as opposed to a constant, that impact the dynamics in determining the optimal Pigouvian tax.
 Keywords: Distortionary tax, Ramsey theory, Pigou tax, Marginal social cost, Lagrange multiplier

Household utility and its long-run impressionability from economic shocks

Household utility and its long-run impressionability from economic shocks

A mixed-equilibrium model of individual and household activity–travel choices in multimodal transportation networks

This paper develops a novel household-oriented activity-based mixed-equilibrium model for estimating individual and household activity–travel choices in multimodal transportation networks with interactions between private car and public transit modes. In the novel model, household members with heterogeneous errors of perception on the time-dependent utility of different activity types make daily joint/solo activity–travel choices in a mixed-equilibrium manner, which maximizes either perceived household utility or perceived individual utility. A logit-based stochastic choice model is developed to capture the mixed equilibrium with heterogeneous errors of perception and used to predict the choices of alternative joint activity–travel paths (JATPs) on a supernetwork platform. Based on this stochastic JATP choice model, the mixed-equilibrium model is formulated as an equivalent variational inequality (VI) problem and solved using a modified diagonalization method. This converts the time-dependent activity–travel scheduling problem into an equivalent static traffic assignment problem on JATPs. The conditions required for the existence and uniqueness of a solution to the equivalent VI problem in terms of a JATP flow pattern are also identified. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the model’s merits and its applications for examining the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.