Is Concern for Relative Consumption a Function of Relative Consumption?

Fredrik W. Andersson ()
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Fredrik W. Andersson: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University, Postal: Box 640, SE 405 30 GÖTEBORG

No 220, Working Papers in Economics from University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: By using hypothetical choice experiments, this paper presents evidence that individuals' concern for relative consumption depends on their relative consumption. Individuals with consumption levels above society's average consumption level tend to have, in general, lower concern for relative consumption. This supports Duesenberry's (1949) notion that people are more concerned with upward social comparison than with downward social comparison.

Keywords: Relative consumption; marginal degree of positionality; choice experiments; questionnaire-experimental methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2006-06-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published in Journal of Socio Economics, 2008, pages 353-364.

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