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The asymmetric behavior of household consumption under the business cycle

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  • Lo, Kuang-Ta
  • Chou, Ta-Sheng
  • Tsui, Stephanie

Abstract

In this study, we examine whether and to what extent the pattern of household consumption is asymmetrically sensitive to economic changes. We use a threshold model with error correction to characterize household consumption under the business cycle. Using data from the 1979–2014 Survey of Family Income and Expenditure in Taiwan, we find that household consumption has pro-cyclical characteristics during the business cycle. More importantly, household consumption responds asymmetrically to economic fluctuations such that changes in consumption tend to be larger during expansions than during downturns. Furthermore, the nature of this asymmetry differs across household income quantiles.

Suggested Citation

  • Lo, Kuang-Ta & Chou, Ta-Sheng & Tsui, Stephanie, 2020. "The asymmetric behavior of household consumption under the business cycle," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:54:y:2020:i:c:s1062940818304029
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2019.03.017
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Jiaping & Zhang, Huirong & Gong, Xiaomei, 2022. "Mobile payment and rural household consumption: Evidence from China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(3).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cyclicality; Asymmetry; Business cycle; Household consumption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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