Expenditure Diary Surveys and Their Associated Errors

The Measurement of Household Consumption Expenditures

“…Silberstein & Scott (1991) report evidence that personal interviews result in lower estimates on potentially sensitive goods, such as alcohol. Safir & Goldenberg (2008) analyze variation in the mode of administration of the CE Quarterly Interview Survey.…”

“…1999, Ahmed et al 2006, and the UK FES (Tanner 1998). These patterns are usually attributed to diary fatigue: Respondents stop recording some part of their expenditures during the diary period to reduce their burden (e.g., Silberstein & Scott 1991, Stat. Can.…”

“…Silberstein & Scott (1991) report that in as many as one-quarter of CE diaries, additional expenses are recorded at the time of diary pickup (interviewers collecting the diary check for completeness). In such cases, the diary survey relies on recall.…”

The measurement of household consumption expenditures

“…Recorded rates of expenditure are significantly lower in the second week and, within weeks, lower toward the end of the week. Such patterns have been reported in the CE (Silberstein & Scott 1991, Stephens 2003, the Canadian Food Expenditure Survey (Stat. Can.…”

“…The most likely explanation for this common finding is that diary fatigue and noncompliance are more severe than any forgetting in the recall responses. Silberstein & Scott (1991) make comparisons for a number of items that are collected in both the interview and diary components of the CE. They report that the diary method produces higher expenditure estimates for some categories (apparel, home furnishings), whereas the interview produces higher expenditures for others (entertainment and hobbies).…”