2026 Luxembourg Consumption Study (LCS) Workshop

Description

On 14 and 15 January 2026, an international expert group convened to discuss key conceptual and empirical challenges in measuring consumption, expenditure, and living standards in a cross-country perspective, in the context of the Luxembourg Consumption Study (LCS). Discussions focused on the strengths and limitations of consumption-based measures relative to income, the treatment of durable goods such as housing and vehicles, and the role of health and education expenditures, including publicly provided services and the differences between high- and low-income countries, with particular attention to making a clear distinction between consumption as a measure of consumption expenditure versus welfare.

Participants emphasized the importance of flexibility and transparency over a single rigid definition, highlighting the need for modular consumption components, clear documentation, and careful handling of cross-country differences related to welfare-state institutions, prices, and survey design. The workshop underscored that consumption measures serve different analytical purposes—particularly for poverty, inequality, and welfare analysis—and that providing well-documented building blocks enables more meaningful and policy-relevant comparisons.

The workshop consisted of two days: the first day was held virtually and aimed at collecting reflections and feedback from consumption experts based outside Europe, while the second day consisted of an in-person meeting.

Scientific committee: François Bourguignon (Paris School of Economics & LIS), Thesia Garner (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), Peter Lanjouw (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & LIS) Philippe Van Kerm (University of Luxembourg & LIS)

Workshop Agenda

The Workshop agenda is available here.

Workshop Summary

The workshop summary, including the key conceptual issues discussed and the proposed way forward for the LCS, is available here.

Available presentations and notes