Chain indices of the cost-of-living and the path-dependence problem: an empirical solution

Oulton, Nicholas ORCID: 0000-0002-1595-7732 (2008) Chain indices of the cost-of-living and the path-dependence problem: an empirical solution. Journal of Econometrics, 144 (1). pp. 306-324. ISSN 0304-4076

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Abstract

This paper proposes a new method for estimating true cost-of-living (Konüs) indices, for large numbers of commodities, using data only on prices, aggregate budget shares and aggregate expenditure. Conventional chain indices are path-dependent unless income elasticities are (implausibly) all equal to 1. The method allows this difficulty to be overcome. I show that to estimate a Konüs index, only income and not price elasticities are required. The method is applied to estimate a Konüs price index for 70 products covering nearly all the UK's Retail Prices Index over 1974–2004, using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System. The choice of base year for utility has a significant effect on the index.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-econom...
Additional Information:	© 2008 Elsevier B.V.
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
JEL classification:	C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C4 - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics > C43 - Index Numbers and Aggregation D - Microeconomics > D1 - Household Behavior and Family Economics > D12 - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E3 - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles > E31 - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
Date Deposited:	21 Mar 2013 13:29
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2024 23:26
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/49312

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