Back to Engel? Some evidence for the hierarchy of needs

Papers on Economics and Evolution from Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography

Abstract: Using data spanning over four decades (1960-2000), this paper employs Engel's needsbased approach to analyzing household expenditure patterns to find evidence for the existence of a stable hierarchy of expenditure patterns at low levels of household income. Second, we investigate how rising household income influences the manner in which total expenditure is distributed across Engel's expenditure categories. Our results suggest that i) total household expenditure is distributed across Engel's expenditure categories in an increasingly even manner as household income increases and ii) over time, there has been an acceleration in the rate at which household expenditure patterns become diversified as household income rises. Finally, we consider how the shape of Engel Curves may help shed light on the relationship between goods and the underlying needs they serve.

Keywords: Hierarchy of needs; Engel Curves; Engel's Law Length 29 pages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-09-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Chapter: Back to Engel? Some Evidence for the Hierarchy of Needs (2013)
Journal Article: Back to Engel? Some evidence for the hierarchy of needs (2012)
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