The Multilevel analysis of socio-demographic Factors affecting Iranian's Household Communications Expenditures

The aim of this study is to analyze of changes of household’s communication expenditures ,particularly in the context of age structure transitions and household living arrangements using secondary analysis of Household Income & Expenditure Survey data during 1984-2013. The Cross-classified Multilevel Model has been applied in order to handling of the pseudo panel model.
The results showed that the share of household communication expenditures has increased rapidly in recent decade. The results of pseudo panel model show that period and cohort have significant effects on of household Communication Expenditures. Age structure changes (percent of activity population aged15-64) have had positive effect on share of household communication expenditures. Also the results shows that socio-demographic characteristics of head of household (such as age, gender, type of job and level of education), household living arrangements, household welfare index, percent of cohort university educated population, and cohort welfare index have significant effects on share of household communication expenditures. These results can be explained by Modigliani’s life cycle consumption theory, theoretical approaches on social distinctions and consumption pattern, demographic cycle theory and generational approach.