TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Response of Consumer Spending to Changes in Gasoline Prices
Y1  - forthcoming
A1  - Gelman, Michael
A1  - Gorodnichenko, Yuriy
A1  - Kariv, Shachar
A1  - Koustas, Dmitri
A1  - Shapiro, Matthew D
A1  - Silverman, Daniel
A1  - Tadelis, Steven
AB  - This paper estimates how overall consumer spending responds to changes in gasoline prices. It uses the differential impact across consumers of the sudden, large drop in gasoline prices in 2014 for identification. This estimation strategy is implemented using comprehensive, daily transaction-level data for a large panel of individuals. The estimated marginal propensity to consume (MPC) is approximately one, a higher estimate than estimates found in less comprehensive or well-measured data. This estimate takes into account the elasticity of demand for gasoline and potential slow adjustment to changes in prices. The high MPC implies that changes in gasoline prices have large aggregate effects.
ER  - 

TY  - RPRT
T1  - How individuals smooth spending: Evidence from the 2013 government shutdown using account data
Y1  - 2015
A1  - Gelman, Michael
A1  - Kariv, Shachar
A1  - Shapiro, Matthew D
A1  - Silverman, Dan
A1  - Tadelis, Steven
AB  - Using comprehensive account records, this paper examines how individuals adjusted spending and saving in response to a temporary drop in income due to the 2013 U.S. government shutdown. The shutdown cut paychecks by 40% for affected employees, which was recovered within 2 weeks. Though the shock was short-lived and completely reversed, spending dropped sharply implying a naïve estimate of the marginal propensity to spend of 0.58. This estimate overstates how consumption responded. While many individuals had low liquidity, they used multiple strategies to smooth consumption including delay of recurring payments such as mortgages and credit card balances.
PB  - National Bureau of Economic Research
ER  -