Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 100% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

Income, Expenditure and Consumption Surveys assume a prime importance among all household surveys undertaken by the national statistical offices all over the world. On the basis of such surveys, the standard of living of both households and individuals can be measured. Determining poverty line and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance depend on these surveys. In addition, weights for consumer price index which in turn is an important measure of inflation are derived from such surveys. Egypt has recognized the greatest importance of these surveys long time ago, the current HIECS 2004/2005 is the eighth Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey that was carried out in 2004/2005, on a sample of 48000 households, among a long series of similar surveys that started back in 1955, and followed by several surveys.

The survey main objectives are: To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio-economic and demographic differentials. To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is an important input for national planning. Current and past demand estimates are utilized to predict future demands. To measure mean household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. To define mean household and per-capita income from different sources. To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey. To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income and expenditure for commodities and services. To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its sources and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. To identify the value of expenditure for food according to sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non food commodities and services. To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ...) in urban and rural areas. To identify the percentage distribution of income recipients according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

It is the first time that the Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey implies the following issues: 1- The use of the classification of individual consumption according to purpose (COICOP) in designing the expenditure and consumption questionnaire. 2- The inclusion of the main sales outlets of food and beverages. 3- The addition of school enrollment (6+ years) to the household schedule. 4- The inclusion of expenditure for used commodities (durables and semi durables). 5- The addition of data related to change in assets owned by the household during the reference year.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 100% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of the Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) of 2004/2005 is a multi-stage stratified cluster sample and self-weighted to the practical extent. Its designed size is 48000 households allocated among governorates and their urban/rural components in proportion to size. The sample was selected in three stages (the second stage is considered dummy), the first two stages is related to the Master Sample which has been drawn directly before the fieldwork of HIECS started. The third sampling stage concerns with the selection of a sample of 40 households from each Master Sample Areas (1200 areas with approximately 700 households in each).

The Master Sample (1200 areas) has been allocated among the governorates of Egypt, with its urban/rural components, in proportion with the estimated size of households of every stratum (governorate) and substratum (urban/rural populations). At the first sampling stage, the shiakha in urban and village in rural are considered the smallest administrative divisions for which census data are available. Therefore such divisions were considered Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) for urban and rural samples of all governorates respectively. Small towns which are not further subdivided into smaller administrative units are dealt with as urban PSUs. While the larger shiakhas or towns were subdivided into several PSUs using the 1996 census data. At the contrary, a village with less than 600 households in 1996 (700 households at present) was joined to the adjacent village so as to make certain that all PSUs are greater than 600 households in 1996. Subsequently, the sampling frames of the first stage sample of urban/rural substrata for all governorates were formed. Implicit stratification was introduced to both urban and rural frames. At the second stage of sampling, a single area segment was selected following the equal probability selection method. A field operation has been carried out for the purpose of creating a household list for each selected second stage sample segment. In the third sampling stage representing the final stage, 40 households were selected from each area segment selected in the second sampling stage of the master sample. With the aim of reducing the field efforts it was deemed efficient to limit the spread of the household sample over the entire area segments by sampling clusters of 5 households each instead of sampling individual households directly. It is worth mentioning that the method of systematic selection will jeopardize the property of equal probability selection as each household in the list still has 40 chances of being selected in the sample.

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among the documentation materials published in both Arabic and English.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following: 1- Expenditure and consumption questionnaire. 2- Diary questionnaire for expenditure and consumption. 3- Income questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of Labor Statisticians held in Geneva, 2003. - Using the recent Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose (COICOP). - Using more than one approach of expenditure measurement to serve many purposes of the survey.

A brief description of each questionnaire is given next:

1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire

This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household on the cover page. The questionnaire is divided into two main sections.

Section one: Household schedule and other information. It includes: - Demographic characteristics and basic data for all household individuals consisting of 16 questions for every person. - Members of household who are currently working abroad. - The household ration card. - The main outlets that provide food and beverage. - Domestic and foreign tourism. - The housing conditions including 15 questions. - Means of transportation used to go to work or school. - The household possession of appliances and means

Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The HIECS 2008/2009 is the tenth Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey that was carried out in 2008/2009, among a long series of similar surveys that started back in 1955.

The survey main objectives are: - To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials. - To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands. - To measure mean household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates. - To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation. - To define mean household and per-capita income from different sources. - To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependant on the results of this survey. - To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas. - To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure. - To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income and expenditure for commodities and services. - To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables. - To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas. - To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its sources and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas. - To identify the value of expenditure for food according to sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non food commodities and services. - To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ...) in urban and rural areas. - To identify the percentage distribution of income recipients according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

Compared to previous surveys, the current survey experienced certain peculiarities, among which: 1- Doubling the number of area segments from 1200 in the previous survey to 2526 segments with decreasing the number of households selected from each segment to be (20) households instead of (40) in the previous survey to ensure appropriate representatives in the society. 2- Changing the survey period to 15 days instead of one month in the previous one 200412005, to lighten the respondent burden and encourage more cooperation. 3- Adding some additional questions: a- Participation or the benefits gained from pension and social security system. b- Participation in health insurance system. 4- Increasing quality control Procedures especially for fieldwork to ensure data accuracy and avoid any errors in suitable time.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of HIECS, 2008-2009 is a two-stage stratified cluster sample, approximately self-weighted, of nearly 48000 households. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

1- Sample Size
It has been deemed important to retain the same sample size of the previous two HIECS rounds. Thus, a sample of about 48000 households has been considered. The justification of maintaining the sample size at this level is to have estimates with levels of precision similar to those of the previous two rounds: therefore trend analysis with the previous two surveys will not be distorted by substantial changes in sampling errors from round to another. In addition, this relatively large national sample implies proportional samples of reasonable sizes for smaller governorates. Nonetheless, over-sampling has been introduced to raise the sample size of small governorates to about 1000 households As a result, reasonably precise estimates could be extracted for those governorates. The over-sampling has resulted in a slight increase in the national sample to 48658 households.

2- Cluster size
An important lesson learned from the previous two HIECS rounds is that the cluster size applied in both surveys is found to be too large to yield an accepted design effect estimates. The cluster size was 40 households in the 2004-2005 round, descending from 80 households in the 1999-2000 round. The estimates of the design effect (deft) for most survey measures of the latest round were extraordinary large. As a result, it has been decided to decrease the cluster size to only 19 households (20 households in urban governorates to account for anticipated non-response in those governorates: in view of past experience non-response is almost nil in rural governorates).

A more detailed description of the different sampling stages and allocation of sample across governorates is provided in the Methodology document available among the documentation materials published in both Arabic and English.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Three different questionnaires have been designed as following: 1- Expenditure and consumption questionnaire. 2- Diary questionnaire for expenditure and consumption. 3- Income questionnaire.

In designing the questionnaires of expenditure, consumption and income, we were taking into our consideration the following: - Using the recent concepts and definitions of International Labor Organization approved in the International Convention of Labor Statisticians held in Geneva, 2003. - Using the recent Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose (COICOP). - Using more than one approach of expenditure measurement to serve many purposes of the survey.

A brief description of each questionnaire is given next:

1- Expenditure and Consumption Questionnaire

This questionnaire comprises 14 tables in addition to identification and geographic data of household on the cover page. The questionnaire is divided into two main sections.

Section one: Household schedule and other information. It includes: - Demographic characteristics and basic data for all household individuals consisting of 18 questions for every person. - Members of household who are currently working abroad. - The household ration card. - The main outlets that provide food and beverage. - Domestic and foreign tourism. - The housing conditions including 15 questions. - Means of transportation used to go to work or school. - The household possession of appliances and means of transportation. - This section includes some questions which help to define the social and economic level of households which in turn, help interviewers to check the plausibility of expenditure, consumption and income data.

Section two: Expenditure and consumption data It includes 14 tables as follows: - The quantity and value of food and beverages commodities actually consumed. - The quantity and value of the actual consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics. - The quantity and value of the clothing and footwear. - The household expenditure for housing. - The household expenditure for furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house. - The household expenditure for health care services. - The household expenditure for transportation. - The household