|
KMID : 0379220130330010001
|
|
Journal of Korea Gerontological Society
2013 Volume.33 No. 1 p.1 ~ p.19
|
|
|
The Asymmetric Effects of Health Events on the Consumptions of American Elderly Couples
|
|
Cho Hong-Chong
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
This paper tests whether adverse health shocks to husband and wife have asymmetric effects on household consumption. We directly use the latest HRS-CAMS consumption data and also measure the magnitude of any asymmetric effects with quantile regressions. The results indicate that when a wife is newly diagnosed ill then household consumption increases, but in the case that husband are severely sick, consumption decreases. The results are robust after controlling financial assets and other factors. This is possibly explained by general expense increases and home production which is not accounted for by changes in financial aspects or labor status. The policies supporting the elderly couples should meticulously depend on which spouse is ill in the recipient household.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
consumption, health, asymmetry, quantile
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|