Conspicuous Consumption in the United States and China

David Jinkins

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

How do differences in the motive for conspicuous consumption in the United States and China affect the incidence of taxes in those countries? In this paper I develop a model of conspicuous consumption in which a consumer cares not only about the direct utility she receives from consumption, but also about the way her consumption pattern affects her peer group's belief about her well-being. Estimating the model on American and Chinese data, I find that a Chinese consumer cares 20% more than an American consumer about peer beliefs. I use the estimated model in several experiments related to tax incidence. I find that the 1990–2002 American luxury tax on automobiles led to widespread but small welfare gains, and that the stronger Chinese motive for conspicuous consumption leads to fewer households harmed and larger median welfare gains from a 10% tobacco excise tax.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization
Volume127
Pages (from-to)115-132
ISSN0167-2681
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2016

Keywords

  • Conspicuous consumption
  • Demand system estimation
  • Tax incidence

Cite this

Jinkins, David. / Conspicuous Consumption in the United States and China. In: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. 2016 ; Vol. 127. pp. 115-132.
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Jinkins, D 2016, 'Conspicuous Consumption in the United States and China', Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol. 127, pp. 115-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2016.03.018

Conspicuous Consumption in the United States and China. / Jinkins, David.

In: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Vol. 127, 07.2016, p. 115-132.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Jinkins D. Conspicuous Consumption in the United States and China. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. 2016 Jul;127:115-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2016.03.018

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