Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework

This paper investigates the behavior of consumption and saving in Malaysia from the perspective of the life cycle hypothesis (LCH). Specifically, the analysis employs the Deaton-Paxson model which decomposes the pattern of household consumption and saving into age effects and cohort effects. Using t...

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Main Authors: Abdul Razak, Nor Azam, Abdul Hakim, Roslan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Research Institute for Policy Development 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/27328/1/JEPS%205%203%202017%20105%20114.pdf
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author Abdul Razak, Nor Azam
Abdul Hakim, Roslan
author_facet Abdul Razak, Nor Azam
Abdul Hakim, Roslan
author_sort Abdul Razak, Nor Azam
collection UUM
description This paper investigates the behavior of consumption and saving in Malaysia from the perspective of the life cycle hypothesis (LCH). Specifically, the analysis employs the Deaton-Paxson model which decomposes the pattern of household consumption and saving into age effects and cohort effects. Using the household data from three Household Expenditure Surveys of Malaysia, this study produces two key results. First, the age effects of income and consumption rise with age but the latter rise more rapidly; thus, the age effects of saving fallwith age. This set of results suggests that individuals engage in a lifetime saving plan early in their working lives (which is consistent with the prediction of LCH); yet, their saving falls gradually over time and approaches zero (instead of becoming negative) toward the end of their lifetime (inconsistent with the prediction of LCH). Second, the cohort effects of income and consumption fall with cohort but the latter fall more rapidly; hence, the cohort effects of saving rise with cohort. This set of results suggests that economic boom generates an unwarranted optimism in that individuals choose to consume at the expense saving; therefore, growth stimulates consumption instead of saving (inconsistent with the prediction of LCH).
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spelling uum-273282020-08-13T03:00:09Z https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/27328/ Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework Abdul Razak, Nor Azam Abdul Hakim, Roslan HC Economic History and Conditions This paper investigates the behavior of consumption and saving in Malaysia from the perspective of the life cycle hypothesis (LCH). Specifically, the analysis employs the Deaton-Paxson model which decomposes the pattern of household consumption and saving into age effects and cohort effects. Using the household data from three Household Expenditure Surveys of Malaysia, this study produces two key results. First, the age effects of income and consumption rise with age but the latter rise more rapidly; thus, the age effects of saving fallwith age. This set of results suggests that individuals engage in a lifetime saving plan early in their working lives (which is consistent with the prediction of LCH); yet, their saving falls gradually over time and approaches zero (instead of becoming negative) toward the end of their lifetime (inconsistent with the prediction of LCH). Second, the cohort effects of income and consumption fall with cohort but the latter fall more rapidly; hence, the cohort effects of saving rise with cohort. This set of results suggests that economic boom generates an unwarranted optimism in that individuals choose to consume at the expense saving; therefore, growth stimulates consumption instead of saving (inconsistent with the prediction of LCH). American Research Institute for Policy Development 2016 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/27328/1/JEPS%205%203%202017%20105%20114.pdf Abdul Razak, Nor Azam and Abdul Hakim, Roslan (2016) Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework. Journal of Economics and Development Studies, 5 (3). pp. 105-114. ISSN 23342382 http://doi.org/10.15640/jeds.v5n3a12 doi:10.15640/jeds.v5n3a12 doi:10.15640/jeds.v5n3a12
spellingShingle HC Economic History and Conditions
Abdul Razak, Nor Azam
Abdul Hakim, Roslan
Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework
title Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework
title_full Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework
title_fullStr Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework
title_full_unstemmed Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework
title_short Consumption and saving: Another glance at the life cycle framework
title_sort consumption and saving another glance at the life cycle framework
topic HC Economic History and Conditions
url https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/27328/1/JEPS%205%203%202017%20105%20114.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT abdulrazaknorazam consumptionandsavinganotherglanceatthelifecycleframework
AT abdulhakimroslan consumptionandsavinganotherglanceatthelifecycleframework