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Does job security matter for consumption? An analysis on Italian microdata

Author

Listed:
  • Clemente De Lucia

    (Ministry of Economics and Finance)

  • Mara Meacci

    (Ministry of Economics and Finance)

Abstract

This paper investigates if labour income uncertainty, particularly as related to the development and diffusion of fixed and short-term work contracts, may have played a role in determining the recent decline of the marginal propensity to consume of Italian households. We analyse this issue in the framework of a standard precautionary saving model, proxing labour income uncertainty with subjective job security measures. Due to the lack of a unique dataset containing all the relevant information, we adopt a two-step two-sample procedure. Estimation results, based on cross-section data for the year 2000, point to a potentially substantial effect of job security perception on household’s nondurables consumption. Its actual capability to prompt aggregate consumption adjustments is however likely to be very limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemente De Lucia & Mara Meacci, 2005. "Does job security matter for consumption? An analysis on Italian microdata," ISAE Working Papers 54, ISTAT - Italian National Institute of Statistics - (Rome, ITALY).
    • Handle: RePEc:isa:wpaper:54
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Filippo Pericoli & Luigi Ventura, 2012. "Family dissolution and precautionary savings: an empirical analysis," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 573-595, December.
    2. Marcus Klemm, 2012. "Job Security Perceptions and the Saving Behavior of German Households," Ruhr Economic Papers 0380, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
    3. Di Mauro, Carmela & Musumeci, Rosy, 2011. "Linking risk aversion and type of employment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 490-495.
    4. Klemm, Marcus, 2012. "Job Security Perceptions and the Saving Behavior of German Households," Ruhr Economic Papers 380, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    5. repec:zbw:rwirep:0380 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Marcel Erlinghagen, 2010. "Mehr Angst vor Arbeitsplatzverlust seit Hartz?: Langfristige Entwicklung der Beschäftigungsunsicherheit in Deutschland," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 279, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Consumption; precautionary saving; job security; two-step twosample estimation. JEL Classification: D12; E21; C42.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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