Abstract
The 1982–84 Consumer Expenditure Survey data are used to analyze expenditures made by nonpoor female-headed households for child-related goods and services. These child costs are measured using Engel's (1895) food share equivalency methodology, previously used by Espenshade (1984) to analyze child-related expenditures in two-parent households. Results show that single, female-headed households on average spend about $112,000 to $142,000 in 1990 dollars to raise a single child to age 18. Findings are also compared with those of two other recently published studies of single-parent child cost estimates.
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Professor Douthitt's research interests include analysis of the effects of family composition on money and time expenditures. Professor Huh's current research interests include analysis of gender roles and family time use.
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Douthitt, R.A., Huh, K. Expenditures on children by female-headed households. J Fam Econ Iss 15, 75–91 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02353634
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02353634