Journal of Economic and Social Measurement - Volume 45, issue 3-4

Authors: Rabbitt, Matthew P. | Engelhard, George | Jennings, J. Kyle

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We explore the dimensionality of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s household food security survey module among households with children. Using a novel methodological approach to measuring food security, we find that there is multidimensionality in the module for households with children that is associated with the overall household, adult, and child dimensions of food security. Additional analyses suggest official estimates of food security among households with children are robust to this multidimensionality. However, we also find that accounting for the multidimensionality of food security among these households provides new insights into the correlates of food security at the household, adult, …and child levels of measurement. Show more

Keywords: Adult food insecurity, bifactor model, child food insecurity, household food insecurity, Item Response Theory, multidimensionality

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-210476

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 45, no. 3-4, pp. 183-213, 2020

Authors: Kezdi, Gabor | Lay, Margaret | Weir, David

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We document changes in wealth inequality across American households with a member aged 55 or older, comparing data in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with that in the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) between 1998 and 2016. We examine net wealth including housing, financial and nonfinancial assets and debt, without the cash value of insurances, DB pensions or Social Security wealth. We find very similar distributions of net wealth in the two surveys between the 25 th and 90 th percentiles, but substantially higher wealth in the SCF at the top …of the distribution. Both surveys show an increase in wealth inequality between 1998 and 2016, first mostly due to increased wealth at the top, and, after 2012, due to an increase in the share of households with very little wealth as well. Both surveys agree that wealth inequality by education and race, already substantial in 1998, increased further by 2016. Show more

Keywords: Wealth, inequality, household surveys

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-210477

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 45, no. 3-4, pp. 215-236, 2020

Authors: Abildgren, Kim | Kuchler, Andreas | Rasmussen, America Solange Lohmann | Sørensen, Henrik Sejerbo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In recent years it has come into focus whether longitudinal microdata on consumption derived from administrative registers can constitute an attractive supplement to survey data. This paper explores the consistency between register-imputed and survey-based consumption figures at the household level for Denmark over the period 2002–15. Moreover, it presents estimated consumer demand functions based on the two types of microdata for the same households. The paper finds no significant differences between the marginal propensities to consume out of income estimated on the basis of the two data sources. Furthermore, it demonstrates a close match between total private consumption in the …national-accounts statistics and the register-based consumption microdata aggregated over all households. Show more

Keywords: Household microdata, consumption measures, consumer demand functions

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-210478

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 45, no. 3-4, pp. 237-254, 2020

Authors: Della Corte, Valerio | Giordano, Claire

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The study outlines the main challenges in measuring external imbalances via a “current account (CA) model”, from which a CA “norm” may be derived and against which the actual CA is appraised. The selection of both the dependent and explanatory variables and technical issues in the estimation procedure are amongst the concerns raised. The impact on CA modelling of global trends, such as the expansion of MNEs, and of the COVID-19 pandemic is also discussed. The paper does not prescribe fully-fledged solutions, but rather provides awareness and hints on how to possibly tackle at least some of these challenges.

Keywords: Current account balance, cyclically-adjusted current account, external imbalancesJEL: F00; F20; F32; F41

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-210479

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 45, no. 3-4, pp. 255-294, 2020