What Is the Permanent Income Hypothesis?
The permanent income hypothesis is a theory ofconsumer spendingstating that people will spend money at a level consistent with their expectedlong-termaverage income. The level of expected long-termincomethen becomes thought of as the level of “permanent” income that can be safely spent. A worker will save only if theircurrent incomeis higher than the anticipated level of permanent income, in order to guard against futuredeclinesin income.
Key Takeaways
- The permanent income hypothesis states that individuals will spend money at a level that is consistent with their expected long-term average income.
- Milton Friedman developed the permanent income hypothesis, believing that consumer spending is a result of estimated future income as opposed to consumption that is based on current after-tax income.
- Under the theory, if economic policies result in increased income, it will not necessarily translate into increased consumer spending.
- An individual's liquidity is a factor in their management of income and spending.
Understanding the Permanent Income Hypothesis
The permanent income hypothesis was formulated by the Nobel Prize-winning economistMilton Friedmanin 1957. The hypothesis implies that changes in consumption behavior are not predictable because they are based on individual expectations. This has broad implications concerning economic policy.
Under this theory, even if economic policies are successful in increasing income in the economy, the policies may not kick off amultiplier effectin regards to increased consumer spending. Rather, the theory predicts that there will not be anuptickin consumer spending until workers reform expectations about their future incomes.
Milton believed that people will consume based on an estimate of their future income as opposed to what Keynesian economics proposed; people will consume based on their in the moment after-tax income. Milton's basis was that individuals prefer to smooth their consumption rather than let it bounce around as a result of short-term fluctuations in income.
Spending Habits Under the Permanent Income Hypothesis
If a worker is aware that they are likely to receive an income bonus at the end of a particular pay period, it is plausible that the worker’s spending in advance of that bonus may change in anticipation of the additional earnings. However, it is also possible that workers may choose to not increase their spending based solely on a short-term windfall. They may instead make efforts to increase their savings, based on the expected boost in income.
Something similar can be said of individuals who are informed that they are to receive an inheritance. Their personal expenditures could change to take advantage of the anticipated influx of funds, but per this theory, they may maintain their current spending levels in order to save the supplemental assets. Or, they may seek to invest those supplemental funds to provide long-term growth of their money rather than spend it immediately on disposable products and services.
Liquidity and the Permanent Income Hypothesis
The liquidity of the individual can play a role in future income expectations. Individuals with no assets may already be in the habit of spending without regard to their income; current or future.
Changes over time, however—through incremental salary raises or the assumption of new long-term jobs that bring higher, sustained pay—can lead to changes in permanent income. With their expectations elevated, employees may allow their expenditures to scale up in turn.
