Change in expenditure patterns of retirees: 1972-1973 and 1986-1987

This study presents a comparative analysis of changes over time in expenditure patterns of retirees. Tobit regressions reveal significant differences in expenditure patterns in health care, leisure, necessities, and philanthropy. Over the past two decades, health care became more of a necessity, and its budget share increased. The marginal propensity to consume (MPC) leisure activities more than doubled. Retirees allocated lesser budget shares to the necessity areas of food and apparel, but single females had increased housing shares. The budget share and MPC for charitable contributions declined. Over time, the average propensity to consume (APC) increased greatly from 94 to 103 percent, a potential problem if elderly persons dissave at unsustainable rates. The spending of older retirees now differs substantially from younger retirees, with the APC declining with age, an apparent contradiction of the life cycle hypothesis. Apparently, the retired are more cautious about spending in the latter stages of the life cycle.