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Two Scales, One Methodology - Expenditure Based Equivalence Scales for the United States and Germany

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Listed:
  • Merz, Joachim
  • Garner, Thesia
  • Smeeding, Timothy M.
  • Faik, Jürgen
  • Johnson, David

Abstract

Choosing an appropriate equivalence scale is a prerequisite for comparisons of economic wellbeing income distribution, inequality or poverty. This is true for country specific work or for cross-national comparisons. Researchers generally either use a country specific equivalence scale (social assistance, expert based, or poverty scales), or adopt a single scale for all comparison across countries. Here we follow a different approach. We use microdata to estimate equivalence scales based on a revealed preference consumption approach for West Germany and the United States. We review several approaches and rely on a complete demand system approach, which provides constant utility based equivalence scales using an extended linear expenditure system (ELES). The multiple equation expenditure system takes into account a full market basket with all its interdependencies and relative prices. Our consumption-based equivalence results are compared to alternative consumption based measures, expert based measures, and subjective based measures in use in both countries and to other scales used for cross-national comparisons.

Suggested Citation

  • Merz, Joachim & Garner, Thesia & Smeeding, Timothy M. & Faik, Jürgen & Johnson, David, 1994. "Two Scales, One Methodology - Expenditure Based Equivalence Scales for the United States and Germany," MPRA Paper 7233, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:7233
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Martina Mysíková & Tomáš Želinský & Thesia I. Garner & Kamila Fialová, 2022. "Subjective equivalence scales in Eastern versus Western European countries," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(4), pages 659-676, October.
    2. Johannes Schwarze, 2000. "Using Panel Data on Income Satisfaction to Estimate the Equivalence Scale Elasticity," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 227, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Stich, Andreas, 1996. "Poverty and life cycle effects: A nonparametric analysis for Germany," Discussion Papers in Econometrics and Statistics 5/96, University of Cologne, Institute of Econometrics and Statistics.
    4. Richard V. Burkhauser & Timothy M. Smeeding & Joachim Merz, 1996. "Relative Inequality And Poverty In Germany And The United States Using Alternative Equivalence Scales," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 42(4), pages 381-400, December.
    5. Merz, Joachim & Lang, Rainer, 1997. "Preferred vs. Actual Working Hours - A Ten Years Paneleconometric Analysis for Professions, Entrepreneurs and Employees in Germany," MPRA Paper 7142, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Leonardo Becchetti & Elena Giachin Ricca & Alessandra Pelloni, 2009. "Children, happiness and taxation," Econometica Working Papers wp12, Econometica.
    7. Ulrich Widmaier & Hiltrud Niggemann & Joachim Merz, 1994. "What makes the Difference between Unsuccessful and Successful Firms in the German Mechanical Engineering Industry?," FFB-Discussionpaper 11, Research Institute on Professions (Forschungsinstitut Freie Berufe (FFB)), LEUPHANA University Lüneburg.
    8. Martina Mysíková & Tomáš Želinský & Michaela Jirková & Jiří Večerník, 2021. "Equivalence Scale and Income Poverty: Two Approaches to Estimate Country-specific Scale for the Czech Republic," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 21-45, July.
    9. Joachim Merz, 1993. "Market and Non-market Labor Supply and Recent German Tax Reform Impacts - Behavioral Response in a Combined Dynamic and Static Microsimulation Model," FFB-Discussionpaper 06, Research Institute on Professions (Forschungsinstitut Freie Berufe (FFB)), LEUPHANA University Lüneburg.
    10. Merz, Joachim, 1995. "MICSIM : Concept, Developments and Applications of a PC-Microsimulation Model for Research and Teaching," MPRA Paper 16029, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Carole Bonnet & Bertrand Garbinti & Anne Solaz, 2021. "The flip side of marital specialization: the gendered effect of divorce on living standards and labor supply," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(2), pages 515-573, April.
    12. Stich, Andreas, 1997. "Poverty and life cycle effects: A nonparametric analysis for Germany," Discussion Papers in Econometrics and Statistics 5/96 [rev.], University of Cologne, Institute of Econometrics and Statistics.
    13. Thomas A. DiPrete & Patricia A. McManus, 1997. "Income Components and the Stability of Family Income in Western Germany and the United States," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 66(1), pages 102-110.
    14. Leonardo Becchetti & Elena Giachin Ricca & Alessandra Pelloni, 2013. "The Paradox of Children and Life Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 111(3), pages 725-751, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    alternative equivalence scale; Germany; USA; distribution of income; inequality; poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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