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Measuring the costs of children: parametric and semiparametric estimators1

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  • B. Melenberg
  • A. H. O. van Soest

Abstract

How much additional income does a family with four children need to attain the same welfare level as a family with two children? And how much does a single person need compared to a childless couple? These questions are important in applied micro‐economics and underlie public policy on, for example, social benefits and child allowances. In microeconomics, this is known as the problem of measuring equivalence scales. We estimate these scales using two types of subjective survey information. First, we use answers to survey questions on the income required to attain a given utility level. We compare the results for the usual linear model with semiparametric estimates, in which the functional form of the relationship between required income and family size and actual income is left unspecified. Second, we use answers to the question: how satisfied are you with actual household income? We present parametric and semiparametric estimates for ordered response models explaining this discrete variable. We find that according to the second type of information, costs of children are much larger than according to the first.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Melenberg & A. H. O. van Soest, 1996. "Measuring the costs of children: parametric and semiparametric estimators1," Statistica Neerlandica, Netherlands Society for Statistics and Operations Research, vol. 50(1), pages 171-192, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stanee:v:50:y:1996:i:1:p:171-192
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9574.1996.tb01486.x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Charles Bellemare & Bertrand Melenberg & Arthur van Soest van Soest, 2002. "Semi-parametric models for satisfaction with income," CeMMAP working papers 12/02, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    2. Vieira, José António Cabral, 2019. "Climbing the Ladders of Job Satisfaction and Employees' Organizational Commitment: A Semi-Nonparametric Approach," IZA Discussion Papers 12787, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Steven F. Koch, 2023. "Basic Needs (in)Security and Subjective Equivalence Scales," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 723-757, October.
    4. Bellemare, C. & Melenberg, B. & van Soest, A.H.O., 2002. "Semi-parametric Models for Satisfaction with Income," Other publications TiSEM a7ab8987-444a-4ab0-b566-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    5. Melanie Borah & Carina Keldenich & Andreas Knabe, 2019. "Reference Income Effects in the Determination of Equivalence Scales Using Income Satisfaction Data," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 65(4), pages 736-770, December.
    6. Charlier, E., 1997. "Equivalence Scales for the Former West Germany," Discussion Paper 1997-74, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    7. Mamine, Fateh & Fares, M'hand & Minviel, Jean Joseph, 2020. "Contract Design for Adoption of Agrienvironmental Practices: A Meta-analysis of Discrete Choice Experiments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    8. Doremus, Jacqueline, 2020. "How does eco-label competition affect environmental benefits? The case of Central Africa's forests," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    9. Steven F. Koch, 2022. "Basic Needs (In)Security and Subjective Equivalence Scales," Working Papers 202259, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    10. Melanie Borah, 2020. "Estimating Extended Income Equivalence Scales from Income Satisfaction and Time Use Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 687-718, June.

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