Mauritius

Title: Household Budget Survey 2001/2002

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BASIC DEFINITIONS

1. Background

Further information is available from Central Statistics Office of J.Kennedy Str, Port Louis, Mauritus, phone: 230 208 08 59 or 230 208 07 81, fax: 203 211 41 50, e-mail: cso@intnet.mu.
Data have been collected by household survey since 1961.

2. Purpose and coverage

The following purposes are considered to be very important or of some importance:

to obtain weights for consumer price index
to estimate household expenditure for national accounts
to study the general structure of household incomes/expenditures
to study income/expenditure patterns of disadvantaged groups, including pensioner households, single parent households, etc
to study income/expenditure disparities among socio-economic groups
for general poverty and/or income distribution studies

Lesser importance is attached to:

to study consumer behaviour among socio-economic groups
to study effects on income and expenditure of policy changes, especially tax changes
for market research purposes
to provide information on nutritional analysis of food consumption

Geographic coverage: National without any specific geographic areas excluded.

Population coverage:
The following types of household are included in the data collection:

one person private households
private households with more than one person
those in collective housing (such as long term hospitals, prisons, monasteries, military quarters)
armed forces residing in private housing within military base
armed forces residing in private housing outside military base

The following types of household are excluded in the data collection:

non-resident households of nationals (households of nationals located abroad)
diplomatic households in the country
households of other foreigners in the country
nomadic and other households difficult to reach: homeless

Units: Dwelling units are not used in the sample selection.

Data are recorded for the household unit which is characterised by:

one person units
two or more people living together:
- sharing a single dwelling or compound
- sharing meals
- sharing a common budget for (at least) food and housing expenditures
- pooling their income to some extent

Unit members: Usual residents are always included as unit members. Visitors (not usual residents) temporarily living in the dwelling are included, if staying continuously for more than 15 days.

Head of unit:
The concept of head of household/other unit is used in this survey and is characterised by:

acknowledged as such by other household/unit members

3. Reference periods

The time period to which income and/or expenditure statistics refer when released/published is from 07/01 to 06/02.These data are collected in the period from 06/01 to 07/02. This survey is conducted 5-yearly. The statistics are published 5-yearly.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

4. Sample design

The Primary, Secondary and Ultimate Sampling Units are enumeration area/district, none and household respectively.

Stratification:
Areas/districts were stratified using the following criteria:

geographical regions
rural/urban

Households/Consumption Unit, Income Unit, Family Unit were stratified using the following criteria:¹

income class
household size, religion

The sampling frames for the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and Ultimate Sampling Unit (USU) were the list of Census enumeration areas and a separate listing exercise respectively. Primary Sampling Units (PSU) were selected using probability proportional to size and Ultimate Sampling Units (USU) were selected using systematic sampling. The sample size was 6720 households or other units. The overall response rate for the survey was 99.97 percent. Errors/biases were minimized by using an updated sampling frame, an increased sample size.

Enumeration procedure: Enumeration uses a single round survey design in which each reporting unit is enumerated only once. The sample is divided into 2 representative sub-samples. ² No action is taken to select a smaller set of reporting units for more detailed questioning.

DATA COLLECTION, CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS

5. Income data

Income data are collected. Receipts have to be regular and recurring to be considered as income. Income excludes receipts resulting from the sale or reduction of assets and/or from incurring liabilities. Income includes receipts that are not currently available to the unit.³

The following receipts are collected separately:

wages and salaries⁸
cash bonuses and gratuities
commissions and tips
remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
termination and redundancy payments , excluded for other reasons: classified as other receipts since they are not regular and recurring
employee social security contributions
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services (car petrol)
profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises, excluded due to measurement problems
goods produced for own consumption
interest received
dividends
rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house)
rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
royalties
regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
old age benefits
other pensions
family-related allowances
sickness benefits
invalidity benefits
education-related allowances
housing allowances
survivors benefits
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are collected but not separately:

unemployment benefits
medical reimbursements, excluded for other reasons: classified as others receipts since it is not regular and recurring
other social insurance benefits
other social assistance benefits
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling, excluded due to measurement problems
regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling, excluded due to measurement problems

The following receipts are not collected:

employer social security contributions
services produced for own consumption
goods produced for barter
services produced for barter
stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
services from owner-occupied dwellings
services from other consumer durables (net)
free government dwelling
subsidized government dwelling
food subsidies
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling
regular inter-household transfers received from: subsidized dwelling
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services
social transfers in kind: medical services
social transfers in kind: public education
social transfers in kind: transport subsidies
social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services
social transfers in kind: others

The following receipts are classified as income from paid employment:

wages and salaries⁸
cash bonuses and gratuities
commissions and tips
remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
employee social security contributions
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services (car petrol)
sickness benefits
housing allowances

The following receipts are classified as income from self-employment:

profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
royalties

The following receipts are classified as property income:

interest received
dividends
rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house)
rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)

The following receipts are classified as employment-related transfer income:

retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes

The following receipts are classified as transfer income but not employment-related:

regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
old age benefits
other pensions
unemployment benefits
family-related allowances
invalidity benefits
education-related allowances
survivors benefits
other social insurance benefits
other social assistance benefits
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are classified as other income but not employment-related:

goods produced for own consumption

The following receipts are excluded due to measurement problems:

drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling

The following receipts are excluded for other reasons:

termination and redundancy payments
medical reimbursements

The following receipts are collected using the last month as the reference period:

employee social security contributions
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services (car petrol)
drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
goods produced for own consumption
regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
old age benefits
other pensions
unemployment benefits
family-related allowances
sickness benefits
invalidity benefits
education-related allowances
housing allowances
survivors benefits
medical reimbursements
other social insurance benefits
other social assistance benefits
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular cash gifts
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts
regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling

The following receipts are collected using the last 12 months as the reference period:

rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house)
rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)

The following receipts are collected using the 'last payment' and 'period covered':

wages and salaries⁸
cash bonuses and gratuities
commissions and tips
remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
termination and redundancy payments
profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
interest received
dividends
royalties

Income data were collected separately for each person receiving income. Components of income for an individual were collected directly from the individual. Negative values (business losses) were excluded when computing self-employment income, because no negative values were detected during the survey.

6. Expenditure data

Data collection method:
Diaries are used to collect expenditure data and are maintained for one month.

Diaries are used to collect expenditure on the following items:⁴

food
alcohol, tobacco
other household non-durables (such as newspapers, batteries)
clothing, footwear
other personal non-durables (such as perfumes)
household services (such as plumber)
personal services (such as driving lessons, haircuts)

Interviews are used to collect expenditure data with the respondent completing the interview by a mix of recall and using documentation.

Data for the following expenditure items are collected by referring:⁵

to expenditures in last one month:
- housing
- other durable goods
- households services

Data for the following expenditure items are not collected by interview because they are collected by diary:

food
other household non-durable goods
clothing, footwear
other personal non-durable goods
personal services

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Household consumption expenditure':

non-durable goods purchased
durable goods purchased (except housing)
own produced non-durable goods
own-produced durable goods
financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical), gross of claims
licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
out of pocket health expenditure, gross of claims
out of pocket education expenditures, gross of refunds
out of pocket transport expenditures, gross of refunds
housing maintenance, minor repairs
purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
second hand goods purchased
valuables: jewellery

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Actual Household consumption':

income in-kind receipts of goods
income in-kind receipts of services
in-kind goods received from other households
social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Non-consumption household expenditure':

mortgage repayments, including interest
services of owner-occupied housing
interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)
life insurance premiums
gambling expenditure
regular cash payments to others outside the household
non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
expenditure abroad
compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)
investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Non-household expenditure':

occupational expenditures
other business-related expenditures

The following types of expenditure items are excluded due to measurement problems:

purchase price of owner-occupied housing
major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
own-produced services
services from durables owned (except housing)
in-kind services received from other households

The following types of expenditure items are collected on an 'acquisitions' basis:

non-durable goods purchased
durable goods purchased (except housing)
own produced non-durable goods
own-produced durable goods
own-produced services
in-kind goods received from other households
in-kind services received from other households
social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households
financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical), gross of claims
licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
out of pocket health expenditure, gross of claims
out of pocket education expenditures, gross of refunds
out of pocket transport expenditures, gross of refunds
housing maintenance, minor repairs
purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
second hand goods purchased
valuables: jewellery

Classification: COICOP is used for classifying expenditure and has 12 separate categories at the finest level.

7. Other Data Collection Issues

The following other topics are covered:

demographic characteristics
education attainment of members
employment status of members
occupation of members
ownership of selected durable goods
housing characteristics
indebtedness

Households are requested to indicate whether durable goods are new or second-hand when their acquisition is recorded.⁶

Non-response: Non-response households (refusals and non-contacts) are substituted.

Non-response is reduced using the following measures:

more than one repeat visits
other incentives : press communique
other measures : visits by supervisory staff

DATA PROCESSING, ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION

Answers are not pre-coded on data collection forms, but are coded by office staff.

The responses are edited by the following:

field supervisors
office staff

Extreme values are retained without change. In-kind receipts and consumption of own production are included in the estimates. In-kind receipts are valued using:⁹ the respondent's estimate. Consumption of own production is valued using:⁹ the respondent's estimate.

Treatment of owner-occupied housing: Values of owner-occupied housing are included in the total income/expenditure estimates and are valued using the current market value. ( )

Treatment of selected groups/values in analysis: Some households/units are excluded from analysis because of incomplete response.¹⁰ Missing values are imputed always . Supplementary sources are used to adjust estimates for under- or over-reporting.¹¹ No groups are excluded from data analysis.

Weighting:
Weighting factors are used to adjust for:

sampling
non-response

Sampling errors: Sampling errors are computed for major aggregates but these sampling errors are not available.

Tabulation and Analysis: Statistics are presented showing averages per month and statistics are analysed and tabulated for households only.

The following classifications are used for tabulation and analysis of income statistics:

age of reference person or head of household
sex of reference person or head of household
occupation of reference person or head of household
income percentiles
absolute income groups
principal source of household income
expenditure percentiles
expenditure classes in monetary terms
household size

The following classifications are used for tabulation and analysis of expenditure statistics:

age of reference person or head of household
sex of reference person or head of household
occupation of reference person or head of household
income percentiles
absolute income groups
principal source of household income
expenditure percentiles
expenditure classes in monetary terms
household size

Documentation and Dissemination:
Published survey reports: household Budget Survey 2001/2002 Main Results, 11/02
Published methodological information: household Budget Survey 1996/97 1998

Additional statistics (or special tables on request) are available for public use, free of charge. Separate tables are published for households with wages/salaries as main source of income. Files of unidentifiable unit data are available (or available on request) for public use, free of charge (if used for research purpose only).

(1) When stratifying by income class, expenditure was used as a proxy for income. (2) The sample is divided into 2 sub-samples, which are Island of Mauritius and Islan d of Rodrigues. (3) Month, a monthly equivalent income is imputed. (4) Diaries are used to collect data on all expenses incurred during the survey month. (5) Expenditure on housing is also collected on a last 12 months basis and in diaries . Expen diture on durable goods is also collected on a last 12 months basis and expenditure on house hold services is also collected in diaries. (6) New or second hand: only in the case of motor vehicles. (7) Old demographic characteristics. (8) For wages, bonuses commissions, termination payments and other remuneration receipts were collected on a "last payment in the reference period month and period co vered" basis. (9) However if respondent can't provide on estimates, field staff provide the estimates or imputation is done in office processing using market prices. (10) But households are not excluded from analysis with respec t to income because of incomplete response. (11) Local sales, production, imports a nd exports are used to adjust estimates for under reporting of alcohol and tobacco.