Household Equivalence Scales: New Australian Estimates from the 1984 Household Expenditure Survey*

Equivalence scales are measures of the relative incomes required by households of different size and composition to attain a similar standard of living, and are used in analysis of consumer expenditure patterns as well as in judging the appropriateness of the structure of income maintenance payments. The paper reviews equivalence scales previously derived for Australia and presents a range of new estimates based on the 1984 Household Expenditure Survey.