Looks at spending patterns for families who are near retirement and compares them with patterns of those who have already retired. Provides information about the impact of retirement on consumer spending. Includes appendices on the results of regression analysis and regression techniques. (Author/JOW)

The nation's children have $4.7 billion of their own money to spend and that does not count what their parents buy for them, which is a lot. (Author)

Describes the geographic distribution, demographic characteristics, and consumer preferences of Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and Cubans in the United States. Suggests that a projected rapid growth in numbers of Hispanics with unique characteristics will produce a consumer market that will require special attention from businesses. (Author/MJL)

An overall perspective on trends in food consumption is presented. Nutrition awareness is at an all-time high; consumption is influenced by changes in disposable income, availability of convenience foods, smaller household size, and an increasing proportion of ethnic minorities in the population. (18 references) (LB)

Examines the relative importance of education credentials in consumer perceptions of self-employed business people. Using 1980 national cross-sectional data on goods- and service-producing occupations, the regression analysis shows that highly educated entrepreneurs are not influenced by consumer credentialism. Includes 17 references. (MLH)

Explores the rationale for college subsidies in most world economies, treating precollege achievement as an insurable risk. Contract theory considers optimum insurance contracts for this risk and views public finance of college education as providing the insurance. The theory yields conditions on optimum taxes and fees. Rationing by…