Comments on: How The Average U.S. Consumer Spends Their Paycheck http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/ Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Fri, 25 May 2012 14:45:45 +0000 hourly 1 By: Andrew Garrett (werdna) 's status on Friday, 17-Jul-09 09:33:11 UTC - Identi.ca http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-84258 Andrew Garrett (werdna) 's status on Friday, 17-Jul-09 09:33:11 UTC - Identi.ca Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:33:15 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-84258 [...] http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/ [...] [...] http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/ [...]

]]> By: Antonio http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-83868 Antonio Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:19:38 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-83868 I feel like I have to make this clear: I am not trying to be funny or sarcastic or to take sides. I just have the impression that you intended to present your question as a paradox when it has at least one perfectly straight answer. Let me put it in a clearer fashion: If they are doing it it must be because, for some reason, they think that 1) they can do it 2) there are needs they have regarding sociology that are not being met by the sociologists themselves, and they feel they can do this work themselves well enough - maybe better than sociologists even What it comes down to is that they are not happy with the state of sociology ,but they don't disregard it as a science, they just don't think that people currently working on it are doing a good job. Just ask: Why aren't economist's doing physics? Well, I guess they just don't think they can do a better job of it than physicists. I feel like I have to make this clear: I am not trying to be funny or sarcastic or to take sides. I just have the impression that you intended to present your question as a paradox when it has at least one perfectly straight answer. Let me put it in a clearer fashion: If they are doing it it must be because, for some reason, they think that

1) they can do it

2) there are needs they have regarding sociology that are not being met by the sociologists themselves, and they feel they can do this work themselves well enough – maybe better than sociologists even

What it comes down to is that they are not happy with the state of sociology ,but they don’t disregard it as a science, they just don’t think that people currently working on it are doing a good job.

Just ask: Why aren’t economist’s doing physics? Well, I guess they just don’t think they can do a better job of it than physicists.

]]> By: Antonio http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-83864 Antonio Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:06:53 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-83864 >if sociology sucks, why do economists keep on doing it? Well, a plausible answer comes to mind immediately: Maybe it is not sociology that sucks, it's just sociologists...and so, sociology itself being useful and needed, and sociologists being incapable of doing it properly, economists have to do it for them. Sorry, you did ask. >if sociology sucks, why do economists keep on doing it?

Well, a plausible answer comes to mind immediately:

Maybe it is not sociology that sucks, it’s just sociologists…and so, sociology itself being useful and needed, and sociologists being incapable of doing it properly, economists have to do it for them.

Sorry, you did ask.

]]> By: Publicola » Blog Archive » BloGulp: Refreshing Posts from the Blogs http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-81346 Publicola » Blog Archive » BloGulp: Refreshing Posts from the Blogs Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:09:35 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-81346 [...] Sociological Images: Where the Money Goes [...] [...] Sociological Images: Where the Money Goes [...]

]]> By: Ellen http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-80570 Ellen Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:40:17 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-80570 Duran would be so disappointed to find out all the ways sociology and economics are alike. Duran would be so disappointed to find out all the ways sociology and economics are alike.

]]> By: SarahMC http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-80501 SarahMC Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:22:14 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-80501 Why does this blog attract such unapologetic assholes? If you hate it so much, Duran, why do you spend to much goddamn time commenting? YOU are the one missing the point. Ahem. ANYWAY, I love sociology + economics. I'm going back to school for a masters in economics; a lot of what appeals to me is the sociological aspect of the field. The housing percentage seems <i>really</i> low to me too, but I'm sure the graph changes quite a bit depending on where one lives. Why does this blog attract such unapologetic assholes? If you hate it so much, Duran, why do you spend to much goddamn time commenting? YOU are the one missing the point.

Ahem. ANYWAY, I love sociology + economics. I’m going back to school for a masters in economics; a lot of what appeals to me is the sociological aspect of the field. The housing percentage seems really low to me too, but I’m sure the graph changes quite a bit depending on where one lives.

]]> By: Rachael http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-80329 Rachael Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:49:48 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-80329 It's nice to see the economists using 'Consumer Unit'. 3 years of hearing economics lecturers use the words 'people' and 'households' interchangeably did my nut. It’s nice to see the economists using ‘Consumer Unit’. 3 years of hearing economics lecturers use the words ‘people’ and ‘households’ interchangeably did my nut.

]]> By: Anthony Mitchell http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-80009 Anthony Mitchell Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:18:03 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-80009 Nice chart. Too bad the dollar figures outside of the ring are presented in a low-contrast font that is difficult to read for the 10% of American men with some form of colorblindness. Nice chart. Too bad the dollar figures outside of the ring are presented in a low-contrast font that is difficult to read for the 10% of American men with some form of colorblindness.

]]> By: styleygeek http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79886 styleygeek Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:58:52 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79886 The housing cost looks really low to me. I guess housing in many US cities must be a lot cheaper than it is here (Australia). $10,000 per year for shelter? That's like $13,000 AUD. That's about 2/3 of what we pay, and we live in a three room (two bedroom + lounge) apartment. I'm sure the "average" family, if it does have two adults and half a child, lives in a bigger place. I just searched our city's rental property database for places that cost $250 AUD or less per week (which is what $10,000 USD per year averages out to), and found only 11 places in our (admittedly small) STATE - all of which were studio or single bedroom units. (And they were all 20km or further out of town. No wonder this average family needs so many cars!) The housing cost looks really low to me. I guess housing in many US cities must be a lot cheaper than it is here (Australia). $10,000 per year for shelter? That’s like $13,000 AUD. That’s about 2/3 of what we pay, and we live in a three room (two bedroom + lounge) apartment. I’m sure the “average” family, if it does have two adults and half a child, lives in a bigger place. I just searched our city’s rental property database for places that cost $250 AUD or less per week (which is what $10,000 USD per year averages out to), and found only 11 places in our (admittedly small) STATE – all of which were studio or single bedroom units. (And they were all 20km or further out of town. No wonder this average family needs so many cars!)

]]> By: Lyndsay http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79837 Lyndsay Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:15:16 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79837 Even a median might tell a little more. This makes America look rich with no range or info about quartiles. I must say WOW to 1.9 cars per household. I've heard that before but I'm amazed every time. I KNOW not every American adult has a car so there are a lot of households that buy cars for their teenage or young adult kids? Even a median might tell a little more. This makes America look rich with no range or info about quartiles.
I must say WOW to 1.9 cars per household. I’ve heard that before but I’m amazed every time. I KNOW not every American adult has a car so there are a lot of households that buy cars for their teenage or young adult kids?

]]> By: The Nerd http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79687 The Nerd Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:52:57 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79687 I'd love to be able to compare this sort of chart across demographics. For example, I could only dream about having money enough for "cash contributions", but I'm lucky that right now my schooling doesn't cost me a thing (Pell Grant for low income). How would that look next to an upper-class citizen? I’d love to be able to compare this sort of chart across demographics. For example, I could only dream about having money enough for “cash contributions”, but I’m lucky that right now my schooling doesn’t cost me a thing (Pell Grant for low income). How would that look next to an upper-class citizen?

]]> By: thewhatifgirl http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79440 thewhatifgirl Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:57:55 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79440 $63,000 does seem like a high number. I've heard an average in the mid-$40k range but I would hope that the discrepancy between the two numbers isn't caused my taxes. Also, isn't the "average American family" now NOT mother-father-child? I thought I read that women were increasingly "head of household" and thus the picture in the center of a heterosexual couple with a child would be misleading as well. $63,000 does seem like a high number. I’ve heard an average in the mid-$40k range but I would hope that the discrepancy between the two numbers isn’t caused my taxes.

Also, isn’t the “average American family” now NOT mother-father-child? I thought I read that women were increasingly “head of household” and thus the picture in the center of a heterosexual couple with a child would be misleading as well.

]]> By: Matt K http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79224 Matt K Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:29:33 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79224 And of course, by creating charts like this, governments and researchers create averages, in a way. Maybe not as big a deal for this type of information, but I could see it being relevant. Just like when someone publishes, for example, the "average" amount of sex a person has each week. In that case, one might wonder: am I having too little? Too much? In this case, one might ask of oneself: am I spending spending in the wrong places? Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but it is an example of how something as apparently harmless as an average can have an impact on people. And of course, by creating charts like this, governments and researchers create averages, in a way. Maybe not as big a deal for this type of information, but I could see it being relevant. Just like when someone publishes, for example, the “average” amount of sex a person has each week. In that case, one might wonder: am I having too little? Too much? In this case, one might ask of oneself: am I spending spending in the wrong places? Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but it is an example of how something as apparently harmless as an average can have an impact on people.

]]> By: wendy http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79177 wendy Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:32:09 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79177 What I found interesting about this image when I saw it (and john beat me to posting it here) is the usefulness of "averages" in general, and how that renders invisible what non-"average" consumers spend income on. Yes, of course, I understand what an "average" is and that this indeed represents an average, but how is it useful (given what it masks)? First, you have the "average" family unit-- mother, father, and child. And their "average" income, which seems incredibly high to me (coming from a working class family). The transportation part seems to assume car-ownership. So how would this cost vary for people who rely on public transportation? Who endure high costs and long commutes to low-paying jobs? And healthcare seems low to me, considering the fact that so many are footing their own healthcare bills these days. Or could this be low because people are choosing not to to get medical procedures/treatment b/c of high costs and no insurance? How about when people don't even have the option of receiving insurance through their jobs even when they work close to full time? How about the cost of prescription drugs? I'm sure there are other issues with each of these "averaged" categories, but my question is how useful is this as a whole? I'd rather see averages for different income ranges, OR a comparison of expenditures between the highest and lowest income ranges. Since averages are skewed by very high-earners, how about just looking at middle, working and lower classes? What I found interesting about this image when I saw it (and john beat me to posting it here) is the usefulness of “averages” in general, and how that renders invisible what non-”average” consumers spend income on. Yes, of course, I understand what an “average” is and that this indeed represents an average, but how is it useful (given what it masks)?

First, you have the “average” family unit– mother, father, and child. And their “average” income, which seems incredibly high to me (coming from a working class family).

The transportation part seems to assume car-ownership. So how would this cost vary for people who rely on public transportation? Who endure high costs and long commutes to low-paying jobs?

And healthcare seems low to me, considering the fact that so many are footing their own healthcare bills these days. Or could this be low because people are choosing not to to get medical procedures/treatment b/c of high costs and no insurance? How about when people don’t even have the option of receiving insurance through their jobs even when they work close to full time? How about the cost of prescription drugs?

I’m sure there are other issues with each of these “averaged” categories, but my question is how useful is this as a whole? I’d rather see averages for different income ranges, OR a comparison of expenditures between the highest and lowest income ranges. Since averages are skewed by very high-earners, how about just looking at middle, working and lower classes?

]]> By: jim http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/07/10/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/comment-page-1/#comment-79107 jim Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:35:20 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=10715#comment-79107 Interesting. No-one takes vacations? Interesting. No-one takes vacations?

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