LIFE-CYCLE CHANGES IN CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR: AGE-SPECIFIC AND REGIONAL VARIATIONS

While research conducted over the last two decades has pointed to the important role played by household consumption in regional economic models, little attention has been directed to the consumption impacts associated not only with income changes, but also life-cycle changes. Using Japanese data, this paper explores some of the implications of life-cycle changes on consumption behavior using a modified AIDS (Almost Ideal Demand System) estimation system. Testing is directed to differences in age-specific consumption behavior and the potential differences in consumption by age and province. Copyright Blackwell Publishing, Inc. 2007