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Household Consumption Through Recent Recessions

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  • Thomas F. Crossley

    (Koç University , University of Cambridge and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Hamish Low

    (University of Cambridge and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Cormac O’Dea

    () (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University College London)

Abstract

This paper examines trends in household consumption and saving behaviour in each of the last three recessions in the UK. The ‘Great Recession’ has been different from those that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. It has been both deeper and longer, but also the composition of the cutbacks in expenditure differs, with a greater reliance on cuts to nondurable expenditure than was seen in previous recessions, and the distributional pattern across individuals differs. The young have cut back expenditure more than the old, as have mortage holders compared to renters. By contrast, the impact of the recession has been similar across education groups. We present evidence that suggests that two aspects of fiscal policy in the UK in 2008 and 2009 - the temporary reduction in the rate of VAT and a car scrappage scheme – had some success in encouraging households to increase durable purchases.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by Koc University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum in its series Koç University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum Working Papers with number 1132.

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Length: 27 pages
Date of creation: Nov 2011
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:koc:wpaper:1132

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Keywords: Consumption; Spending; Recessions;

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References

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  1. Erich Battistin & Agar Brugiavini & Enrico Rettore & Guglielmo Weber, 2008. "The retirement consumption puzzle: evidence from a regression discontinuity approach," IFS Working Papers W08/05, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
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