Expenditure Behavior of Households and Welfare of Children and Widows in Pakistan, South Africa: A Study on Unit Record Data

Abstract

This study investigates on Pakistani and South African data gender issues in household behavior.A test for gender bias is proposed and applied.Education spending shows significant bias in favor of boys in Pakistan, though not in South Africa.In contrast,the calorie data shows no such bias in either country, but points to the significance of several non income variables in the estimated calorie demand equations.The female headed households are poorer, with the headship variable proving to be a significant determinant of expenditure allocation in South Africa, but not in Pakistan.The results confirm that South African blacks are poorer than others, and unable to meet their daily calorie requirements.Widowhood poverty is no greater than that overall,but the picture changes dramatically if we allow economies of household size.

JEL Classification: D12, I32, J16