Geoffrey D. Paulin

Variation in Food Purchases: A Study of Inter‐Ethnic and Intra‐Ethnic Group Patterns Involving the Hispanic Community

The Hispanic community in the United States is growing rapidly. Understanding food expenditure patterns for this group is of increasing importance. Yet, as implied by the term Hispanic community, most literature treats Hispanics as one group rather than as a collection of diverse cultures with some common linguistic and other characteristics. This article uses data from the 1995 and 1996 U.S. Consumer Expenditure Diary Surveys to examine food expenditure patterns for Hispanics as a group compared to non-Hispanics and for subgroups within the Hispanic community (i.e., families of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, or other Spanish origin). The data show not only that Hispanics in general have different food expenditure patterns than non-Hispanics, but also, and perhaps more important, that the subgroups within the Hispanic community are not homogeneous in their food expenditure patterns. Researchers should recognize the diversity in the Hispanic population when considering goals for nutritional and related policies.

Do expenditures explain income? A study of variables for income imputation

Income data in the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey are subject to nonresponse. Model-based imputation is being explored to diminish missing data problems. Since income is an important variable in predicting expenditures, might expenditures be useful in predicting incomes? Incomes from wages and salaries and self-employme\1t are modeled. These results are compared to regressions on demographic characteristics alone. Although each expenditure category adds to the predictive power of the model, total expenditures adds the most.

Consumer Expenditure Surveys Methods Symposium and Microdata Users’ Workshop, July 12–15, 2016

The Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) program collects expenditures, demographics, and income data from families and households. To address CE-related topics in survey methods research, provide free training in the structure and uses of the CE microdata, and explore possibilities for collaboration, the CE program held its annual Survey Methods Symposium and Microdata User’s Workshop from July 12 to 15, 2016. Several economists from the CE program and other U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offices, along with research experts in a variety of fields, including academia, government, market research, and other private industry areas, gathered together to explore better ways to use the microdata.

Improving data quality in Consumer Expenditure Survey with TAXSIM

Nonresponse is a common problem in household surveys, including the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE). Methods to adjust for this problem have been in place for several years for many key items collected in the CE, including expenditures and income. Besides income, another important variable in analyzing expenditure patterns is taxes, because consumers presumably make expenditure and savings decisions based on after-tax income. However, before the data collected in 2013 were published, no mechanism was in place to adjust for nonresponse to tax questions. Data collection then changed in 2013 when TAXSIM, a model developed by the National Bureau of Economic Research, was introduced into the production process. The improvement in data quality was immediately evident: The percentage of consumer units for which tax data are available, along with average tax values calculated, increased substantially. In addition, levels of savings, computed as after-tax income less total expenditures, fell as expected. These results are observed for the population as a whole and for demographic groups within the population. This article includes details of the TAXSIM model and additional examples of how data quality improved because of its use in processing.