The Estimated Costs of Children in Australian Families in 2005-06 

25 May 2005 

by Richard Percival and Ann Harding, NATSEM

Commissioned research report for the Ministerial Task Force on Child Support

This report estimates the costs of children in Australia in 2005-06. Costs are defined as the additional expenditure that families with children incur, when compared to families with an equivalent living standard but without children.


Table of contents


Abstract
Author note
Acknowledgments
General caveat
  1. Introduction
  2. Methodology
    3. 2.1 Estimating the direct costs of children
    2.2 Data source
    2.3 Definition of expenditure
  3. Estimated costs in couple families
    4. 3.1 Costs of children by age
    3.2 Costs of children by number of children
  4. Estimated costs in sole parent families
    5. 4.1 Costs of children by age
    4.2 Costs of children by number of children
  5. Summary and conclusions
  6. References
  7. Appendix: Detailed description of methodology

About NATSEM


The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling was established on 1 January 1993, and supports its activities through research grants, commissioned research and longer term contracts for model maintenance and development with the federal departments of Family and Community Services, Employment and Workplace Relations, Treasury, and Education, Science and Training.

NATSEM aims to be a key contributor to social and economic policy debate and analysis by developing models of the highest quality, undertaking independent and impartial research, and supplying valued consultancy services.

Policy changes often have to be made without sufficient information about either the current environment or the consequences of change. NATSEM specialises in analysing data and producing models so that decision makers have the best possible quantitative information on which to base their decisions.

NATSEM has an international reputation as a centre of excellence for analysing microdata and constructing microsimulation models. Such data and models commence with the records of real (but unidentifiable) Australians. Analysis typically begins by looking at either the characteristics or the impact of a policy change on an individual household, building up to the bigger picture by looking at many individual cases through the use of large datasets.

It must be emphasised that NATSEM does not have views on policy. All opinions are the authors’ own and are not necessarily shared by NATSEM.

Director: Ann Harding

© NATSEM, University of Canberra 2005

National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling
University of Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
170 Haydon Drive Bruce ACT 2617

Phone + 61 2 6201 2780 Fax + 61 2 6201 2751
Email NATSEM (natsem@natsem.canberra.edu.au)
NATSEM website (www.natsem.canberra.edu.au)

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