We consider two econometric problems in the measurement of poverty, both relating to rent imputation. First, we account for quality differences correlated with selection into owner‐occupied versus rental tenure. This correction increases estimated household consumption by 5% over uncorrected estimates and decreases estimated poverty rates quite dramatically. Second, we propose that measurement error induced by the imputation be corrected by imputing a consumption distribution, rather than a consumption level, for each household. This correction increases estimated poverty rates slightly. We use our methods to measure consumption poverty in Canada, and find that the imputation strategy used influences the patterns observed. For example, measured poverty among the elderly barely declines when one uses our methods, in contrast to the almost 6 percentage point reduction we find using traditional methods. In our assessment of the over‐time evolution of consumption poverty, we find that substantial progress has been made on overall poverty and on child poverty, but that poverty among the elderly hardly changed.
We assess the evolution of consumption inequality in Canada over the years 1997 to 2009. We correct the imputation of shelter consumption for homeowners to allow for unobserved differences in housing quality correlated with selection into rental tenure, and we account for measurement error in this imputation. Using the annual Survey of Household Spending for years 1997 to 2009, we find that household‐level consumption inequality measured by the Gini coefficient increased from 0.251 to 0.275 over 1997 to 2006. Between 2006 and 2007, consumption inequality may have decreased, and over 2007 to 2009, consumption inequality was flat. Over the entire period of 1997 to 2009, consumption inequality increased moderately. The Gini coefficient for individual‐level consumption inequality followed a similar pattern, though the changes were smaller in magnitude. We also explore a possible correction for tail non‐response bias in inequality measurement and find that the increase in measured consumption inequality is robust to this correction.
This paper analyzes several foundational concepts and questions regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR). Its primary contribution is a statistical examination of relationships between CSR and Newsweek's 2012 Green Rankings using forensic-based financial and accounting measures. We also replicate a previous study and introduce new variables for looking at CSR from an economic perspective. The paper is interdisciplinary in that it synthesizes preceding studies' conceptions of CSR through finance, consumer behavior, branding, and ethics -a mix which has received minimal attention -in an attempt to better characterize and measure CSR.
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