A micro-analytic threshold model for the timing of first purchases of durable goods

A micro-analytic threshold model to describe the timing of household purchases of consumer durable goods is developed and tested. The model incorporates unobserved heterogeneity via a generalized gamma distribution and accounts for time varying covariates. Further, we employ estimation methods applicable or purchase data observed at periodic intervals of time. The model outperforms other competing models for predicting the timing of purchase of durable goods in terms of fit and predictive ability. In particular, this model outperforms the logit model and the diffusion model. The generalized gamma timing model predicts well the time to purchase the durable good; we show how it can be employed for micro-segmentation of households. Several research directions and applications are described.     

Socio-economic Determinants of Multidimensional Poverty in Rural West Bengal: A Household Level Analysis

The present study tries to estimate the incidence, depth and severity of multidimensional poverty (MDP) along with the contributions of dimensions to MDP among the rural households using multi-stage random sampling method in West Bengal. We decompose the inequality of deprivation scores between and within different socio-economic, religious and ethnic groups. The factors affecting the probability of falling in multidimensional poverty is also explored here using logistic regression, and the regression results suggest that public infrastructure plays an essential role towards explaining the variations of MDP. The present study is expected to be helpful to the development planners for better understanding of the root causes of MDP among the rural households in West Bengal.