RDP 2003-08: A Tale of Two Surveys: Household Debt and Financial Constraints in Australia Appendix B: Variable Definitions

Dependent variable

ANYCFPRO = 1 if the household had cash flow problems in the past year and 0 if not.

Demographic variables

AGE = age of the household head (years).

GENDER = 1 if household head is a female and 0 if not.

FAMILY SIZE = number of usual residents in the household.

DISABILITY/HEALTH = 1 if household has a person with a disability or health condition and 0 if not.

COUPLE NO CHILD = 1 if couple without children and 0 if not.

COUPLE CHILD = 1 if couple with children (either 0–14 or 15+ years or both) and 0 if not.

SINGLE PARENT = 1 if lone parent with children (either 0–14 or 15+ years or both) and 0 if not.

MIXED FAMILY = 1 if mixed families in household and 0 if not.

Economic variables

HOME OWNER = 1 if home owner or home buyer and 0 if renting from landlord, government housing authority or other.

UNEMPLOYED = number of unemployed persons in the household.

DWELLING VALUE = estimated dwelling value ($).

DISPOSABLE INCOME = total weekly household disposable income (gross weekly income minus imputed tax) ($).

INCOME FROM GOVT BENEFITS = household income from government benefits as a proportion of total weekly household gross income (%).

Interest-sensitive variables

INCOME FROM INTEREST = household income from interest as a proportion of total weekly household gross income (%).

MORTGAGE DEBT = household mortgage repayments as a proportion of total weekly household disposable income (%).

CREDIT CARDS = number of credit cards in the household.

CREDIT CARD INTEREST = 1 if household pays interest on credit cards and 0 if not.