The 1995/1996 Household Income, Expenditure - (PDF, 101 mb ...

old, and very young, household heads. Poverty increases near-monotonically
with the number of children in the household, and decreases with the number
of household earners. Overall, the incidence of poverty has risen from 21% to
44%; while the deterioration is supported by other sources, the magnitude of
the overall effect is sensitive to the cost of the diet and to the fact that more
households from the rural areas are represented in the latter sample.
Human capital - Official (un)employment figures are measured with error.
Being young, married, and having lower household income levels makes an
employee more likely to be a wage earner.
Standard human capital regressions show that wages are higher for married
males with higher educations. The self-employed with employees are
presumably the lowest paid category, but measurement error appears obvious.
Employees find the highest paid jobs in primary industrial activities.
Workers' remuneration continues to be discounted.
The Consumer Price Index - the mismeasurement of inflation is the greatest
barrier to evaluating Egyptian levels of living. This chapter is a blueprint
for fixing the CP1.
Housing - A synopsis of rent control, and present-day costs of housing
amenities. In 1990/1991, hedonic quality adjustment for maintenance, repair
and improvement removes all the benefits of rent control. In 1995/1996 the
free market/controlled market comparison is impossible because of the scarcity
of contracts, but hedonic analysis is still possible: renters perceive themselves
better off than owners.
Education - The implied literacy rate is approximately 60%.
Despite the beneficial effects of education, in higher household income and
expenditure levels, and especially in lowering fertility, girls education is not
being emphasized. This is shown in female-to-male enrollment ratios, and in
the probability of being enrolled. The reason for low enrollment probability
is linked to higher household expenditures (unexpected), a lower education
level of the head of the household (expected), and the geographic location of
households (lower probabilities of being enrolled if the household is from
Upper Rural Egypt, or the Frontier governorates).
Education expenditures and budget shares have increased over time.
Medical - Household size is negatively associated with level and per capita
medical expenditures. Over time, shares of medical goods and services have
risen in rural areas but declined in urban areas.
The Use of IllECS Data - it is difficult to argue against full disclosure of
economic information.
1.4