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The Gendered Nature of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Sologon, Denisa Maria

    (LISER (CEPS/INSTEAD))

  • Doorley, Karina

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin)

  • O'Donoghue, Cathal

    (National University of Ireland, Galway)

  • Peluso, Eugenio

    (University of Luxembourg)

Abstract

This paper investigates the gendered effects of the cost-of-living crisis on households across six European countries using household consumption data linked to price changes between April 2021 and July 2023. It examines how different consumption patterns between male- and female-headed households influence their exposure to inflation. Exploring the full distribution of inflation rates, employing quantile regressions and a decomposition approach, this research uncovers gender-specific disparities in inflation exposure and inequality. Going beyond the immediate economic index adjustments, it also evaluates the welfare changes attributable to inflation by estimate a behaviourally-adjusted welfare effect of the cost-of-living crisis. Building on the foundational Atkinson welfare measure, this paper innovates by decomposing the change in welfare into equity and efficiency components, differentially for male- and female-headed households. This contribution enriches the consumption literature by providing a detailed gendered analysis of inflation's distributional and welfare effects, aiding policymakers in addressing the nuanced challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Sologon, Denisa Maria & Doorley, Karina & O'Donoghue, Cathal & Peluso, Eugenio, 2024. "The Gendered Nature of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 16820, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16820
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sologon, Denisa Maria & Doorley, Karina & O'Donoghue, Cathal, 2024. "Gender Disparities in Inflation during the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Europe: A Novel Decomposition," IZA Discussion Papers 16860, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inflation and gender; inflation inequality and gender; distributional effect and gender; welfare effect and gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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