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Family spending power

Author

Listed:
  • Jamie Carson

    (Statistics Canada)

Abstract

Families with two or more adults have unadjusted incomes above the overall average because they have more potential earners. On the other hand, unattached individuals and lone parents have after-tax income averages just over half the overall average. Adjusting incomes to account for family size and composition-using an 'equivalence scale'- changes the picture. Based on the adjusted figures, the average family had the equivalent spending power of an unattached individual with $26,900 in after-tax income in 1999. Adjusted incomes fall into a narrower range, so the gap between the highest and lowest 20% falls from $8 (unadjusted) to $5 for every $1. This smaller gap indicates a tighter distribution when incomes are adjusted for family size. Many demographic trends contributed to changes in the size and type of families between 1980 and 1999. The family with two parents and children saw a decline, while other forms of household organization increased. The average family size in 1999 was 10% smaller than in 1980.

Suggested Citation

  • Jamie Carson, 2005. "Family spending power," Microeconomics 0508006, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpmi:0508006
    Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 11. Adjusting family income for family size and composition. Cited in Palmetta and Macredie -- Statistics Canada 2005.
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    File URL: https://econwpa.ub.uni-muenchen.de/econ-wp/mic/papers/0508/0508006.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Bittman & Robert E. Goodin, 1998. "An Equivalence Scale for Time," Discussion Papers 0085, University of New South Wales, Social Policy Research Centre.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    adjusted family income; inequality; after-tax income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations
    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design

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