Financial Stress and Indigenous Australians

37 Pages Posted: 27 Dec 2017

See all articles by Robert V. Breunig

Robert V. Breunig

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy; Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Syed Abul Hasan

Massey University

Boyd H. Hunter

Australian National University

Abstract

We examine the high levels of financial stress among Indigenous populations in Australia. We estimate separate models for the determinants of financial stress for Indigenous and non-Indigenous households and show the importance of separately considering Indigenous disadvantage. We use these models to build equivalence scales for both groups. We find evidence consistent with financial stress being exacerbated by demand-sharing ("humbugging"). The evidence also suggests that financial stress is reduced by engagement in traditional hunting and gathering activities.

Keywords: financial stress, hardship, cash ow, equivalence scales, indigenous poverty

JEL Classification: I31, I32, J15

Suggested Citation

Breunig, Robert V. and Hasan, Syed Abul and Hunter, Boyd, Financial Stress and Indigenous Australians. IZA Discussion Paper No. 11221, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3092565 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3092565

Robert V. Breunig (Contact Author)

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy ( email )

7 Liversidge Street
Lennox Crossing
Canberra, ACT 0200
Australia
61261252148 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://crawford.anu.edu.au/crawford_people/content/staff/rbreunig.php

Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU) ( email )

Canberra
Australia

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Syed Abul Hasan

Massey University ( email )

Private Bag 11 222
Massey University
Palmerston North, 4442
New Zealand
69517019 (Phone)

Boyd Hunter

Australian National University ( email )

Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
Building 21, Hanna Neumann Building
Canberra ACT 0200
Australia
58207 6125 8207 (Phone)

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