Permanent income hypothesis

Permanent income hypothesis (PIH) focuses on permanent income for consumption decisions

Permanent income hypothesis

Permanent income hypothesis (PIH) focuses on permanent income for consumption decisions

The permanent income hypothesis posits that individuals base their consumption on expected long-term income rather than temporary fluctuations. This contrasts with traditional Keynesian views that emphasize immediate income changes affecting consumption patterns.

Example

If a person receives a permanent salary increase, they will likely increase their consumption gradually over time, reflecting their new permanent income level.

Understanding this helps explain why consumption doesn't always spike with temporary income gains, highlighting the importance of long-term income expectations in economic behavior.

Related concepts

Educational content, not financial advice.

One email a day: 5 concepts + the 5 stories that matter →

Swipe through 100 ML concepts daily

Open TickerNews