Private Consumption

Private consumption is calculated as (% of GDP) * (GDP in US$1995). The percentages for the period 1970 - 1995 were taken from WDI (1998), the GDP data are calculated as described above. Where no country data for whole 1970 - 1995 period were available, estimates were made by taking a 3-year average based on the nearest time period. Regional estimates were then completed by correcting for the missing population shares of that region for missing countries. 
 
For most regions the ratio of total private consumption/total GDP is rather constant over time during the 1970 - 1995 period (ranges are about +/- 5%, except Middle East en East Asia ca. 10%). Therefore a crude assumption was made that historically the average ratio of (total prc/total GDP) for the period 1970 - 1995, can be applied for the period 1890 - 1970 as well.  

• Download table: Private consumption per capita for the period 1890 - 1990 (xls, 162Kb) 

References

• References