论文部分内容阅读
我们使用中国城镇住户调查数据证实:在控制家庭收入之后,收入差距仍然会显著减少家庭除教育以外的消费。我们还发现收入差距对低收入或年轻家庭的消费抑制更加明显,但能刺激教育投资的上升。这很可能来源于为提升社会地位而储蓄的动机。更高的社会地位可以带来各种物质或非物质上的收益。而社会不平等的增加意味着进入社会上层可以获得更高的收益,同时提升地位需要更多的财富。这些都可能加强人们为提高社会地位而储蓄的激励。
Using China’s urban household survey data, we confirm that after controlling for household income, the income gap will still significantly reduce the consumption of households other than education. We also find that the income gap has more pronounced inhibitory effects on the consumption of low-income or young families, but it can also stimulate investment in education. This is likely to be motivated by saving for social status. Higher social status can bring various kinds of material or non-material benefits. The increase in social inequality means that higher incomes can be gained by entering the upper social strata, while more wealth is needed to enhance status. All of this may reinforce incentives for people to save in order to improve their social status.