Construction of True Cost of Food Indexes from Estimated Engel Curves
通过估计简单的Piglog恩格尔曲线系统，推导出真实生活成本指数，最大程度细分商品类别，并展示通胀对不同支出水平和人口特征家庭的影响。结果发现1980-85年间消费者价格指数低估了食品成本，但对非白人低收入家庭更准确。
Abstract This paper applies a technique to derive true cost‐of‐living indexes from the estimation of a simple system of piglog Engel curves. This technique allows a maximum amount of commodity disaggregation, and the indexes show the impact of inflation on households with different expenditure levels and demographic characteristics. Results indicate that the consumer price index (CPI) underestimated the cost of food over the 1980–85 period. The CPI more accurately reflects the cost of food for nonwhite households with low or average food expenditures.