Economists from Radboud University reveal how the advent of household appliances in low- and middle-income countries signifies a pivotal leap towards a better standard of living, highlighting the concept of the “domestic transition.”
Economists Rutger Schilpzand and Jeroen Smits from Radboud University unveil a compelling new way to evaluate a country’s development: by examining the household items people possess. Their research shifts the focus from traditional metrics, such as income, health or education, to what they term “material wealth,” introducing the concept of the “domestic transition.”
Published in the Journal of International Development, their study presents a unique perspective on how the material wealth of households is evolving in low- and middle-income countries.
“That’s why, for the first time, we are mapping out how the material wealth of households is developing,” Schilpzand said in a news release.
A Life With Basic Amenities
In affluent countries, life without a refrigerator, television or washing machine is almost unimaginable today. However, before 1960, very few households owned these appliances.
Fast forward 15 years, and these items became a staple in nearly every kitchen and living room. This massive shift is what Schilpzand and Smits call the “domestic transition.”
Smits emphasizes the significance of these appliances.
“Virtually every household in the world that is wealthy enough to buy such items actually does so,” Smit said in the news release.
This transition profoundly reduces the time and energy spent on daily chores, particularly benefiting women.
Schilpzand agrees, adding, “Buying a refrigerator or washing machine immediately reduces their workload and creates space for spending their time in more productive ways.”
The Ongoing Transition in Developing Countries
While wealthy nations completed this domestic transition decades ago, many developing countries are still in the midst of it, or have only just begun.
Schilpzand and Smits investigated whether the pattern seen in Western countries would repeat in emerging nations. Their study covered over 1,300 regions within 88 low- and middle-income countries, specifically focusing on ownership of televisions and refrigerators.
The results confirmed that the domestic transition follows a similar pattern in emerging countries, characterized by slow initial growth, rapid adoption and eventually reaching a saturation point. However, substantial regional differences exist.
“Whereas China and Mexico have already pretty much completed the transition, in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, it has barely begun,” added Smits. “Basic needs, such as food, clothes and shelter, have to be met first before people can even think about buying a refrigerator.”
Factors Influencing the Transition
The research highlighted that urban regions experience faster transitions compared to rural areas, primarily due to better economic conditions and higher education levels. Progress also accelerates when the working-age population is proportionally larger compared to dependents.
“Our analyses have given us a better understanding of the situation of households in developing countries, what is still needed to ensure a reasonable standard of living there and how quickly this could be achieved” Schilpzand added.
Broader Implications
This research sheds light on the paramount role that basic household appliances play in improving living standards. The evolution from owning no appliances to having essential ones represents not just a change in lifestyle but a crucial step towards gender equality and efficient resource allocation.
As developing nations progress through their domestic transitions, understanding these patterns can inform policies aimed at accelerating economic growth and improving quality of life.