The Econometric SocietyEdited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262
Econometrica: Jul, 1975, Volume 43, Issue 4
https://doi.org/0012-9682(197507)43:4<771:TDOTBI>2.0.CO;2-7
p. 771-788
Michael P. Murray
In this paper we estimate the Hicksian equivalent variation of consumer's surplus for a sample of public housing tenants and examine the distribution of these surpluses by household characteristics. To do this we estimate the parameters of a generalized CES utility function (imposing second order constraints as needed) and of a Cobb-Douglas utility function. The Cobb-Douglas specification is rejected statistically and benefit estimates based on it follow a significantly different distributional pattern than those estimated with the generalized CES, although there is not much difference in average benefits.
