Envy and Habits: Panel Data Estimates of Interdependent Preferences

Abstract

We estimate the importance of preference interdependence from consumption choices. Our strategy follows the literature that tests the constraints imposed by optimality in the evolution of individual consumption. We derive an Euler equation from a preference specification that allows for nonseparabilities across households and across time. The introduction of habits and envy places additional restrictions on the evolution of the optimal consumption path. We use a unique data set that follows a sample of 3,200 households for up to eight consecutive quarters to test these restrictions. Our estimates suggest that, if one defines utility over consumption services, a large fraction of these services is relative, with one fourth of the weight placed in the consumption of the reference group and more than one third of the weight placed on the agent's past consumption.

Thorstein Veblen, Joan Robinson, and George Stigler (Probably) Never Met: Social Preferences, Monopsony, and Government Intervention

“…Wendner and Goulder (2008) summarize results from survey-based studies and conclude that γ is likely to be greater than 0.2 but less than 0.4. This is consistent with ndings based on panel data by Alvarez-Cuadrado et al (2016), and experimental evidence in Alpizar et al (2005).…”