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MPCs in an economic crisis: spending, saving and private transfers

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Crossley

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Essex and European University Institute)

  • Paul Fisher

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Peter Levell

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Hamish Low

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Oxford & Nuffield College)

Abstract

MPCs were directly elicited from a representative sample of UK adults in July 2020 using receipt of a hypothetical unanticipated, one-time income payment. Reported MPCs are modest, around 11% on average. They are higher, but still modest, for individuals in households with high current needs. These low MPCs may be a consequence of the prevailing economic uncertainty. Signi?cant fractions of respondents report they would use a windfall to pay down debt, or that they would change their transfer payments to or from family and friends. The latter means that the aggregate MPC out of a stimulus payment need not equal the population-average MPC.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Crossley & Paul Fisher & Peter Levell & Hamish Low, 2021. "MPCs in an economic crisis: spending, saving and private transfers," IFS Working Papers W21/26, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:21/26
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    File URL: https://ifs.org.uk/uploads/WP202126-MPCs-in-an-economic-crisis-spending-saving-and-private-transfers.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Crossley, Thomas F. & Fisher, Paul & Levell, Peter & Low, Hamish, 2023. "Stimulus payments and private transfers," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    2. Belmonte, A & Pickard, H, 2022. "Safe at Last? LATE Effects of a Mass Immunization Campaign on Households’ Economic Insecurity," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 604, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    3. Albuquerque, Bruno & Green, Georgina, 2023. "Financial concerns and the marginal propensity to consume in COVID times: Evidence from UK survey data," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    4. Max. A. Mosley & Edmund Cornforth, 2023. "The Macroeconomic Effect of the UK’s 2022 Cost-of-Living Payments," Discussion Papers 2316, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).

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