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Five facts about MPCs: Evidence from a randomized experiment

Author

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  • Johannes Boehm
  • Etienne Fize
  • Xavier Jaravel

Abstract

We present experimental evidence on the marginal propensity to consume (MPC) out of transitory transfers, distributing prepaid debit cards with different features. The one-month MPC is substantially higher with a card expiring after three weeks (61%), compared to a transfer without expiration (23%). The finding that households consume more when presented with an urgent spending need lends support to theories where the salience of treatments affects choices. We also estimate that the consumption response is concentrated in the first weeks after the transfer and that a large fraction of households has high MPCs, even those with high liquid wealth.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Boehm & Etienne Fize & Xavier Jaravel, 2024. "Five facts about MPCs: Evidence from a randomized experiment," CEP Discussion Papers dp1998, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1998
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    File URL: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1998.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Andre, Peter & Flynn, Joel P. & Nikolakoudis, George & Sastry, Karthik A., 2024. "Quick-fixing: Near-rationality in consumption and savings behavior," SAFE Working Paper Series 434, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    2. Fessler, Pirmin & Rapp, Severin, 2024. "The Subjective Wealth Distribution: How it Arises and Why it Matters to Inform Policy?," SocArXiv 3x4jh, Center for Open Science.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    marginal propensity to consume; randomized controlled trial; helicopter money;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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