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The Elasticity of Substitution Between Time and Market Goods: Evidence from the Great Recession

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  • Aviv Nevo
  • Arlene Wong

Abstract

We document a change in household shopping behavior during the Great Recession. Households purchased more on sale, larger sizes and generic products, increased coupon usage, and shopping at discount stores. We estimate that the returns to these shopping activities declined during the recession and therefore this behavior implies a significant decrease in households’ opportunity cost of time. Using the estimated cost of time and time use data, we estimate a high elasticity of substitution between market expenditure and time spent on non-market work. We find that households smooth a sizable fraction of consumption by varying their time allocation during recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Aviv Nevo & Arlene Wong, 2015. "The Elasticity of Substitution Between Time and Market Goods: Evidence from the Great Recession," NBER Working Papers 21318, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21318
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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