The Economics of Household Consumption

This book provides an overview of concepts, theories, and methods related to the study of household consumption. It summarizes the most recent data on consumption patterns and trends, together with factors that influence consumption--population trends, prices, and distribution of resources--and examines how consumption data are used by business, government, and other organizations. The purpose of the work is to give the student an understanding of household consumption patterns, including recent trends in household consumption in the United States, consumption patterns and problems in rich and poor countries, and applications to questions of public policy.

Frances M. Magrabi is professor of consumption economics in the School of Human Resources and Family Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received her PhD from Iowa University.

Young Sook Chung is assistant professor of home management at Taegu University, Korea. She received her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sanghee Sohn Cha, who received her PhD from the School of Human Resources and Family Studies at the University of Illinois, has taught at Seoul National University and Sook-Myung Women's University, Korea.

Se-Jeong Yang, also with a doctorate from the University of Illinois, is employed as an economic analyst at the CNB Economic Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.