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MPCs through COVID: spending, saving and private transfers

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  • Fisher, Paul
  • Levell, Peter
  • Low, Hamish
  • Crossley, Thomas

Abstract

MPCs were directly elicited from a representative sample of UK adults in July 2020. Re- ported MPCs are low, around 11% on average. They are higher, but still modest, for individuals in households with high current needs. These low MPCs may be a consequence of the prevailing economic uncertainty. Some respondents report that they would respond to a one-time income payment by transferring more to friends and family, others report they would see a decline in the payments received. Targeting payments to high-MPC individuals could be partly undone. Further, the aggregate MPC out of a stimulus payment need not equal the population-average MPC, even if all individuals receive the same payment.

Suggested Citation

  • Fisher, Paul & Levell, Peter & Low, Hamish & Crossley, Thomas, 2020. "MPCs through COVID: spending, saving and private transfers," ISER Working Paper Series 2020-14, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:ese:iserwp:2020-14
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    Cited by:

    1. Albuquerque, Bruno & Green, Georgina, 2023. "Financial concerns and the marginal propensity to consume in COVID times: Evidence from UK survey data," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Albuquerque, Bruno & Varadi, Alexandra, 2022. "Consumption effects of mortgage payment," Bank of England working papers 963, Bank of England.
    3. Divakaruni, Anantha & Zimmerman, Peter, 2021. "Uncovering Retail Trading in Bitcoin: The Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus Checks," SocArXiv khw8a, Center for Open Science.
    4. Mosley, Max, 2021. "The importance of being earners: Modelling the implications of changes to welfare contributions on macroeconomic recovery," MPRA Paper 108620, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Bui, Dzung & Dräger, Lena & Hayo, Bernd & Nghiem, Giang, 2022. "The Marginal Propensity to Consume During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Thailand and Vietnam," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-695, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.

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