The Life Cycle Income and Expenditure Patterns of Households in Iran

The rapid changes in the economic and social structure experienced by households during the economic transition prevent the generalization of a single model for the household’s distribution of household expenditures and incomes in developed countries. Therefore, the goal of this study is to estimate the revenue and consumption life cycle indices in Iran during the years 2001 to 1399. Based on the results, the age-profile indices show a hump-shaped pattern. Because the spending smoothing behavior distributes definitive sources of inequality evenly throughout the life cycle, it has a smoother age profile than income. More educated households with higher income levels and expenses have higher income growth rates for a longer period of time. Slow increase in consumption inequality relative to income indicates that most permanent changes in income have been predictable for individuals. Also, according to the permanent income hypothesis and the findings of other economies, consumption inequality has increased for households over 30 years old. This result is consistent with incomplete market life cycle models in which variance is a constant component for all early in life cycle is small, and increases over time due to the accumulation of certain permanent shocks. Finally, estimates of the income process show that although permanent income shocks are the same for all households, in without an academic degree group, past incomes have a greater effect on current incomes, and this group suffers larger transient income shocks.