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The Relative Income Theory of Consumption: A Synthetic Keynes-Duesenberry-Friedman Model

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  • Thomas I. Palley

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model of consumption behavior that synthesizes the seminal contributions of Keynes (1936), Friedman (1956) and Duesenberry (1948). The model is labeled a “relative permanent income” theory of consumption. The key feature is that the share of permanent income devoted to consumption is a negative function of household relative permanent income. The model generates patterns of consumption spending consistent with both long-run time series data and modern empirical findings that high-income households have a higher propensity to save. It also explains why consumption inequality is less than income inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas I. Palley, 2008. "The Relative Income Theory of Consumption: A Synthetic Keynes-Duesenberry-Friedman Model," Working Papers wp170, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    • Handle: RePEc:uma:periwp:wp170
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christopher D Carroll, 1997. "Why Do the Rich Save So Much?," Economics Working Paper Archive 388, The Johns Hopkins University,Department of Economics.
    2. Philip H. Dybvig, 1995. "Dusenberry's Ratcheting of Consumption: Optimal Dynamic Consumption and Investment Given Intolerance for any Decline in Standard of Living," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 62(2), pages 287-313.
    3. Blanchflower, David G. & Oswald, Andrew J., 2004. "Well-being over time in Britain and the USA," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(7-8), pages 1359-1386, July.
    4. Robert H. Frank, 2005. "Positional Externalities Cause Large and Preventable Welfare Losses," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(2), pages 137-141, May.
    5. Dirk Kreuger & Fabrizio Perri, 2002. "Does Income Inequality Lead to Consumption Inequality? Evidence and Theory," Working Papers 02-15, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    6. Alpizar, Francisco & Carlsson, Fredrik & Johansson-Stenman, Olof, 2005. "How much do we care about absolute versus relative income and consumption?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 405-421, March.
    7. Perri, Fabrizio & Krueger, Dirk, 2002. "Does Income Inequality Lead to Consumption Inequality?," CEPR Discussion Papers 3583, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Thomas I. Palley, 1993. "Under-Consumption and the Accumulation Motive," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 71-86, March.
    9. Simon Kuznets & Lillian Epstein & Elizabeth Jenks, 1946. "National Product since 1869," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number kuzn46-1, June.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Iheonu O Chimere & Tochukwu Nwachukwu, 2020. "Macroeconomic determinants of household consumption in selected West African countries," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(2), pages 1596-1606.
    2. Sadiye Baykara & Erdinç Telatar, 2012. "The Stationarity Of Consumption-Income Ratios With Nonlinear And Asymmetric Unit Root Tests: Evidence From Fourteen Transition Economies," Hacettepe University Department of Economics Working Papers 20129, Hacettepe University, Department of Economics.
    3. Ondřej Badura, 2018. "Vliv relativního příjmu na sklon ke spotřebě případ České republiky [An Influence of Relative Income on the Propensity to Consume - Czech Republic Case Study]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2018(4), pages 430-449.
    4. Massoud Moslehpour & Panita Chaiyapruk & Sahand Faez & Wing-Keung Wong, 2021. "Generation Y’s Sustainable Purchasing Intention of Green Personal Care Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Dögüs, Ilhan, 2019. "Consumption dispersion between white-collar and blue-collar workers and rising market concentration in the USA: 1984-2011," ZÖSS-Discussion Papers 72, University of Hamburg, Centre for Economic and Sociological Studies (CESS/ZÖSS).
    6. Tazeb Bisset & Dagmawe Tenaw, 2022. "Keeping up with the Joneses: macro-evidence on the relevance of Duesenberry’s relative income hypothesis in Ethiopia," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 24(2), pages 549-564, December.
    7. Bokana K.G & Kabongo W.N.S, 2018. "Modelling Real Private Consumption Expenditure in South Africa to Test the Absolute Income Hypothesis," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(5), pages 138-155.
    8. Himayatullah Khan, 2014. "An Empirical Investigation of Consumption Function under Relative Income Hypothesis: Evidence from Farm Households in Northern Pakistan," International Journal of Economic Sciences, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(2), pages 43-52.
    9. Mohd Ali, Ahmad Fahme & Mohd Radzi, Naziatul Aziah & Kosnin, Ruzanifah & Hassan, Suchi & Saidin, Siti Salina, 2021. "Estimating Expenditure Pattern and Permanent Income Hypothesis: Evidence from Kelantan Malaysia," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 55(2), pages 39-49.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Consumption; permanent income; relative income; Keynes; Duesenberry; Friedman;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles

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