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Saving and Consumption When Children Move Out

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  • Klos, Alexander
  • Rottke, Simon

Abstract

Based on the German Socio-economic Panel (SOEP), we show that household consumption drops and saving rises significantly within four years after a child moves out of a household. Per capita consumption of parents is approximately leveled up to that of childless peers after all children are gone. We conclude with respect to the adequacy of saving rates that calibrated life-cycle models assuming a smoothing of per capita consumption for parents with children in the household underestimate the wealth needed to smooth consumption in the long run.

Suggested Citation

  • Klos, Alexander & Rottke, Simon, 2013. "Saving and Consumption When Children Move Out," VfS Annual Conference 2013 (Duesseldorf): Competition Policy and Regulation in a Global Economic Order 79786, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc13:79786
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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