Being equal Quote by Ernst Engel
“The poorer is a family, the greater is the proportion of the total outgo which must be used for food... The proportion of the outgo used for food, other things being equal, is the best measure of the material standard of living of a population.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Statistical Theory of Income Distribution, 1857
Food expenditure proportion, when other factors are equal, best indicates a population’s material living standard.
In simple terms: Food share reveals living standards.
Key Takeaway
Use food spend as a poverty gauge.
Themes
economics
poverty
living standards
statistics
Mood
analytical
neutral
Type
economic
academic
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- NGO aid programs
- family finance
- academic research
Key Concepts
Engelal economics
budget allocation
welfare analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How reliable is food spend as a poverty metric today?
- What other indicators complement it?
A Different Perspective
Food share may be distorted by subsidies or cultural habits.
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