Reconciling Economics and Behavioral Analysis in the Study of the Relation Between Income and Consuming Behavior

Abstract

The Marginal Propensity to Consume is an economic concept that describes the direct control of personal income over consumption. This and other key economic concepts, such as price, consumption, and savings, may contribute to consumer behavior studies performed using a behavioral analysis approach by emphasizing some variables that have not received sufficient attention in behavioral economic studies. The transposition of these concepts to the language and practice of behavioral analysis faces some methodological obstacles. We intend to offer analytical tools to the behavioral analysis community that may help identify contingencies in experimental sessions with nonhuman subjects and promote deeper interdisciplinary dialog between economists and behavior analysts.