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Prudent consumers: New evidence from the Consumer Expenditure Survey

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  • Kim, Seewon

Abstract

Using Consumer Expenditure Survey data from 1986 to recent years, this study examines whether or not the precautionary saving motive is an important force governing consumer behavior. A time series model is obtained by aggregating a log-linearized Euler equation across households, in which the cross-sectional variance of consumption growth represents income uncertainty. The test uses an alternative measure of consumption that excludes some problematic expenditure items from the conventional measure and finds strong evidence for the presence of the precautionary motive. This result is in sharp contrast with the findings of previous cross-sectional estimations using the same data set. It is argued that cross-sectional estimations may be seriously affected by measurement errors whereas the current estimation is not.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Seewon, 2013. "Prudent consumers: New evidence from the Consumer Expenditure Survey," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 77-85.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:33:y:2013:i:c:p:77-85
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2013.03.020
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    Cited by:

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    2. Reis Gomes, Fábio Augusto, 2020. "Evaluating a consumption function with precautionary savings and habit formation under a general income process," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 157-166.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Precautionary saving; Idiosyncratic risk; Measurement error; Time series model; Cross-sectional variance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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