Quantifying Quality Growth
利用美国消费者支出调查数据，估计66种耐用品基于富裕家庭支付溢价的“质量恩格尔曲线”，发现质量升级导致年均3.7%的质量增长，其中2.2%表现为通胀。
Using U.S. Consumer Expenditure Surveys, we estimate “quality Engel curves” for 66 durable goods based on the extent richer households pay more for each good. The same data show that the average price paid rises faster from 1980 to 1996 for goods with steeper quality Engel curves, as if households are ascending these curves. BLS prices likewise increase more quickly for goods with steeper quality Engel curves, suggesting the BLS does not fully net out the impact of quality upgrading. We estimate that annual quality growth averages 3.7 percent for our goods, with 2.2 percent showing up as higher inflation.