The Stationarity of Consumption–Income Ratios: Evidence from South American Countries

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the order of integration of the consumption–income ratio in 10 South American countries. To fulfill this purpose, the individual ADF test, its panel versions [Maddala and Wu (1999) and Choi (2001)] and the Minimum LM unit root test with structural break(s) [Lee and Strazicich (1999, 2003)] were employed. While the former tests found more favorable evidence to an integrated process, after controlling for structural breaks only Uruguay seems to be integrated. Thus, in general, the consumption-income ratio was diagnosed as a stationary process, as suggested by the relative income hypothesis, the habit persistence model, the permanent income hypothesis and the life cycle hypothesis.