Project Abstract

Abstract
This study focuses on conducting a regression analysis of expenditure on monthly income and family size among medical laboratory scientists at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. The aim is to explore the relationship between these variables and provide insights into how family size and income levels impact expenditure patterns. The research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing survey data collected from a sample of medical laboratory scientists working at the hospital. The study hypothesizes that there is a significant relationship between expenditure, monthly income, and family size. Regression analysis is used to test these hypotheses and determine the extent to which monthly income and family size predict expenditure. The findings from the regression analysis are expected to provide valuable information for medical laboratory scientists in managing their finances effectively. The research sample consists of medical laboratory scientists selected through random sampling techniques. Data on monthly income, family size, and expenditure patterns are collected using structured questionnaires. The collected data are then analyzed using regression analysis to examine the relationships between these variables. The results of the regression analysis are expected to shed light on how family size and income levels influence expenditure patterns among medical laboratory scientists. The findings will also offer practical implications for financial planning and budgeting for individuals in similar professions. Overall, this study contributes to the existing literature on expenditure behavior, income management, and family size dynamics among medical professionals. By examining the relationship between monthly income, family size, and expenditure, the research provides insights that can help medical laboratory scientists make informed decisions about their finances. The findings may also have implications for policy development aimed at supporting healthcare professionals in managing their financial resources effectively. In conclusion, this research aims to enhance understanding of the factors influencing expenditure patterns among medical laboratory scientists at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. By investigating the relationship between monthly income, family size, and expenditure, the study seeks to provide practical recommendations for financial planning and decision-making among healthcare professionals.

Project Overview

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• Preliminary

Economic development of any nation is contingent upon the income potential and consumption patter of its people. While, the channelization of income in productive investment avenues leads to increased capital formation, the rise in consumption expenditure leads to higher aggregate demand and elevated economic growth of a country (Dwivedi, 2005). Since, industrial workforce are both potent consumers and prospective savers of economy, it becomes all the more important to analysis their savings consumption expenses. Of the multiple factors determining the income and subsequent consumption pattern of the individual, the family or the household size assumes importance (Browning and Lusaidi, 1996; Orbeta, 2006).

Most of the existing studies are of the view that family size affects both the income and consumption expenses of the individual, but in opposing direction (Rehmen et al., 2010). With increase in the size of the household, the income is diverted away from the savings and consequently, the saving income-ratio of the individual is lowered. However, because of the presence of relatively large number of economically active members, there is a possibility of average saving of large sized families being more than that of the law member family groups. Nevertheless, the empirical findings of majority of studies suggest that family size has a negative effect on saving, as increased number of family members draw down the savings, thereby resulting in reduced propensity to save of an individual (Bendig et al., 2009) consumption expenditure, on the other hand is regarded as a positive function of household size as proposed by a number of consumption theories. Every addition to the family size result in incremental burden on the current income levels of the household which leads to the diversion of income towards consumption (Dornbush et al., 2004) and the gratification of day to day consumption needs of the additional income ratios of the individual. Some researchers are of the view that in absolute terms, the consumption expenses of the large families can be lower than that of the small member families, which may be possible due to the relatively lower income levels of large households in contract to the smaller ones. However, the effect of family size on consumption expenditure in real terms is assessed through examining the pattern of proportion of income spent on consumption (consumption income ratios) in response to increase in number of members in a family. A number of studies unanimously agree that existence of additional family members in a household result in increased prosperity to consume, thereby implying that consumption expenses are positively impacted by the family size (Kelly, 2015).

There exist limited studies which have exclusively studied the effect of family size on both saving and consumption expenses of the industrial workforce. Therefore, in this backdrop, the present study attempts to fill existing research lacunae through in-depth examination of the impact of family size on monthly saving and consumption expenditure of through the application of specific econometric tools. It further aims to study the pattern of income and consumption expenses of workers by simultaneously analyzing and comparing their mean values across different family size groups.