Singapore

Title: Household Expenditure Survey, 1997/98

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BASIC DEFINITIONS

1. Background

Further information is available from Singapore Department of Statistics of 100 High Street-05-01 The Treasury Singapore (179434), phone: 65 6332 7134, fax: 65 6332 7689, e-mail: Yap_Yee_Liong@singstat.gov,sg.
Data have been collected by household survey since 1957. ^{1 2}

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
to study consumer behaviour among socio-economic groups
for general poverty and/or income distribution studies
to study effects on income and expenditure of policy changes, especially tax changes
for market research purposes

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
those in collective housing (such as long term hospitals, prisons, monasteries, military quarters)
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
armed forces residing in private housing within military base

Units:
Dwelling units are used in the sample selection and are characterised by:

single structure - detached housing unit
single unit in a structure containing more than one housing unit
street address

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

Unit members: ³Usual residents temporarily living away from the dwelling are included, if away continuously for less than 6 months. Visitors (not usual residents) temporarily living in the dwelling are included, if staying continuously for more than 6 months. Domestic staff living in same dwelling/compound are included in the unit. Renters living in same dwelling/compound are included in the unit. Boarders living in same dwelling/compound are included in the unit.

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 11/97 to 10/98.These data are collected in the period from 11//9 to 10/98. 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, dwelling and address respectively.

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

geographical regions
administrative districts
type of housing

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

type of housing

The sampling frames for the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and Ultimate Sampling Unit (USU) were a register of addresses and a set of administrative registers (or combination of such registers) respectively. Primary Sampling Units (PSU) were selected using 2-stage stratified design and Ultimate Sampling Units (USU) were selected using probability proportional to size. The sample size was 9000 households or other units. The overall response rate for the survey was 88 percent. Errors/biases were minimized by using an updated sampling frame.⁴

Enumeration procedure: Enumeration uses a single round survey design in which each reporting unit is enumerated only once. The sample is divided into 26 representative sub-samples. 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 excludes receipts that are not currently available to the unit.

The following receipts are collected separately:

wages and salaries
cash bonuses and gratuities
drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
goods produced for own consumption, net of inputs
services produced for own consumption, net of inputs
services from owner-occupied dwellings
interest received
dividends
royalties
retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
education-related allowances
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships

The following receipts are collected but not separately:

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: car/transportation
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
profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house), net of expenses
rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
family-related allowances
housing allowances
food subsidies
other social assistance benefits
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 not collected:

termination and redundancy payments, excluded for other reasons: one -time handout
employer social security contributions, excluded for other reasons: out of scope
stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
services from other consumer durables (net), excluded for other reasons: not applicable
regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
old age benefits, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
other pensions, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
unemployment benefits, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
sickness benefits, excluded for other reasons
invalidity benefits, excluded for other reasons
survivors benefits, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
free government dwelling, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
subsidized government dwelling, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
medical reimbursements, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
other social insurance benefits, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
social transfers in kind: medical services, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
social transfers in kind: public education, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
social transfers in kind: transport subsidies, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services, excluded for other reasons: not applicable
social transfers in kind: others, excluded for other reasons: not appplicable

The following receipts are classified as income from paid employment:

wages and salaries
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: car/transportation
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
housing allowances
food subsidies

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

profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
goods produced for own consumption, net of inputs
services produced for own consumption, net of inputs)

The following receipts are classified as property income:

services from owner-occupied dwellings
rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house), net of expenses
rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)

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

retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes

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

interest received
dividends
royalties
family-related allowances
education-related allowances
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 excluded for other reasons:

termination and redundancy payments
employer social security contributions
stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
services from other consumer durables (net)
regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
old age benefits
other pensions
unemployment benefits
sickness benefits
invalidity benefits
survivors benefits
free government dwelling
subsidized government dwelling
medical reimbursements
other social insurance benefits
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling
regular inter-household transfers received from: free 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 collected using the last month as the reference period:

wages and salaries
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: car/transportation
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
goods produced for own consumption , net of inputs
services produced for own consumption, net of inputs
retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
housing allowances
food subsidies

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

cash bonuses and gratuities
services from owner-occupied dwellings
interest received
dividends
rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
royalties
family-related allowances
education-related allowances
other social assistance benefits
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships

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

profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
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 reference period for:

termination and redundancy payments was not applicable
employer social security contributions was not applicable
goods produced for barter was not applicable
services produced for barter was not applicable
stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise was not applicable
services from other consumer durables (net) was not applicable
regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute was not applicable
old age benefits was not applicable
other pensions was not applicable
unemployment benefits was not applicable
sickness benefits
invalidity benefits
survivors benefits
free government dwelling was not applicable
subsidized government dwelling was not applicable
medical reimbursements was not applicable
other social insurance benefits was not applicable
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling was not applicable
regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling was not applicable
regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling was not applicable
regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services was not applicable
social transfers in kind: medical services was not applicable
social transfers in kind: public education was not applicable
social transfers in kind: transport subsidies was not applicable
social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services was not applicable

Income data were collected separately for each person receiving income. Components of income for an individual were collected directly from each individual or from one person reporting for all individuals. Negative values (business losses) were excluded when computing self-employment income.

6. Expenditure data

Data collection method:
Diaries are used to collect expenditure data and are maintained for two weeks.

Diaries are used to collect expenditure on the following items:

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:

to expenditures in last 12 months:
- other durable goods

to the last payment for that expenditure:
- housing

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
households services
personal services

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

non-durable goods purchased
durable goods purchased (except housing)
services of owner-occupied housing
income in-kind receipts of goods
income in-kind receipts of services
own produced non-durable goods
own-produced durable goods
own-produced services
social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households
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, net of refunds
housing maintenance, minor repairs
second hand goods purchased
expenditure abroad

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

in-kind goods received from other households
in-kind services received from other households

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

life insurance premiums, gross of claims
gambling expenditure, gross of winnings
regular cash payments to others outside the household
non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)

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 classified as 'Investment/liability expenditure':

purchase price of owner-occupied housing
mortgage repayments, including interest
major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)
financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
valuables: jewellery
investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)

The following types of expenditure items are excluded for other reasons:

services from durables owned (except housing) (not applicable)

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

non-durable goods purchased
durable goods purchased (except housing)
purchase price of owner-occupied housing
mortgage repayments, including interest
services of owner-occupied housing
major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
income in-kind receipts of goods
income in-kind receipts of services
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
interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)
financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical) , gross of claims
life insurance premiums, gross of claims
licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
gambling expenditure, gross of winnings
out of pocket health expenditure, gross of claims
out of pocket education expenditures, gross of refunds
out of pocket transport expenditures, net of refunds
housing maintenance, minor repairs
purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
second hand goods purchased
expenditure abroad
valuables : jewellery
investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)
occupational expenditures
other business-related expenditures

The following types of expenditure items are collected on a 'payments' basis:

regular cash payments to others outside the household
non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)

The following types of expenditure items are collected on some other basis:

services from durables owned (except housing) (not applicable)

Classification: A national classification that is not consistent with COICOP is used for classifying expenditure and has 1000 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

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

Non-response: There is no substitution for non-response, whether by non-contact or by refusal.

Non-response is reduced using the following measures:⁴

more than one repeat visits
monetary rewards

Reporting errors are reduced using the following measures:

careful instrument design
adequate cues or props for prompting
quality control
well-trained field interviewers

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:

interviewers, data collectors
field supervisors
office staff

Extreme values are retained without change. ⁵ In-kind receipts are included in the estimates, but consumption of own production is not. In-kind receipts are valued using: 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 rental equivalent net of housing costs usually paid by owners.

The following information is used in this valuation:

annual assessed values are obtained from the relevant authorities

Treatment of selected groups/values in analysis: Some households/units are excluded from analysis because of incomplete response. Missing values are imputed only on some occasions where administrative records or relevant information is available. Supplementary sources are not used to adjust estimates for under- or over-reporting. Etnic groups are excluded from data analysis.

Weighting:
No weighting factors are used for sampling, non-response or benchmarking.

Sampling errors: Sampling errors are computed for Total Income/Expenditure aggregates only and these sampling errors are published.

Tabulation and Analysis: Statistics are presented showing averages per month and statistics are analysed and tabulated for households and for individuals separately. ⁶

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

age of reference person or head of household
occupation of reference person or head of household
other characteristic of reference person or head of household, education of reference perso or head of houshold
income percentiles, quintiles
absolute income groups
principal source of household income
expenditure classes in monetary terms
household size
structure of household
other characteristic of household, type of house, Number of working persons in houshold
other classification, additional properties, Assets owned, Specified consumer durables

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

age of reference person or head of household
occupation of reference person or head of household
other characteristic of reference person or head of household, education of reference perso or head of houshold
income percentiles, quintiles
absolute income groups
expenditure percentiles
expenditure classes in monetary terms
household size
structure of household
other characteristic of household, type of house, Number of working persons in houshold
other classification, additional properties, Assets owned, Specified consumer durables

Documentation and Dissemination:
Published survey reports: Report on the Household Expenditure Survey 1997/98, 12/2000
Published methodological information: Report on the Household Expenditure Survey 1997/98, 12/2000

Additional statistics (or special tables on request) are available for public use, free of charge and with charges (non-published tables migth be provided with charges based on full cost-recovery).⁷ Separate tables are published for households with wages/salaries as main source of income. Files of unidentifiable unit data are not available (or available on request) for public use.

(1) Part of the data has been collected in a population census. (2) 5-yearly after 1972/73. (3) In situations where the usual resident is the sole breadwinner living with spouse , or an only child living with elderly parents, he/she will be included even if away continuously more than 6 months. (4) Sufficient training of field interviewers. Random spot checks carried out by field supervisors. (4) Substantial publicity was generated for the survey, as well as prompt dispatch of reminder letters to encourage participation. Annex: Classification of Expenditure items Household Expenditure Survey 1997/1998 (5) Or amended. (6) Statistics for individuals are tabulated only on Investments/Asset Ownership. (7) Ad-hoc writeups would be made and published as information papers/articles.