and Manchu families in Tables II and III. Owing to the different conditions obtaining, as indicated above, the purposes of expenditure are slightly different. The general expenditure is divided into the amount sent home and the amount spent on self. Expenditures on self are divided into food, clothing, other necessities, and luxuries. The same expenditure groups are used.

TABLE V. AVERAGE EXPENDITURES OF NINETY-THREE

Surplus and deficit. All Manchu families show a deficit till an expenditure of $90 is reached. The record for Chinese is much better, as in even the lowest expenditure group there is no deficit and at $70 they begin to save. Deficits go as high as 4 per cent and, omitting one group which is very exceptional, the surplus attains the same per cent.

Food. The average expenditure for food increases as the general expenditure increases, but not proportionally, for the per cent decreases. This is regularly demonstrated by the Manchus and Chinese, separately and together, and by the servants. The per cent expended for food varies from a maximum of 83 per cent for Manchus in the lowest expenditure group to a minimum of 68 per cent for the same people in their

highest expenditure group. The minimum average expenditure is $34.20 per year for an average family of 2.5 Manchus, and the maximum is an average of $132.40 for a family of 4.5 Chinese. The average expenditure for food for servants remains in all groups very close to $36 which is the regular cost of board for servants at the school.

The interesting thing to note here is that we have a wider range of variation among the Manchus than among the Chinese in the per cent spent on food. The reason is that the thrifty Chinese are less willing to cut down on food for the sake of luxuries than are their former masters, the Manchus. This tendency we shall see again.

Clothing. In every case the average amount and the per cent spent for clothing show a marked tendency to increase. The per cent spent on clothing varies from .7 per cent to 9.8 per cent and the average amount varies from $.30 to $18. The Chinese spend both a larger per cent and a larger average amount than do the Manchus on this item. Here is another place where the Manchus can cut down in order to get the luxuries he once was used to. The servants, due to the character of their work spend a relatively large amount on clothing.

Light and fuel. The average amount spent on light and fuel shows a marked tendency to increase and the per cent shows a slight tendency in the same direction. In other investigations the per cent for this item either decreases or remains the same. The reason for this difference lies in the fact that, until an expenditure of $90 is reached for both Chinese and Manchus, the family cannot spend a sufficient amount for this purpose and has to make up by gathering fuel from the fields. Six dollars is the minimum amount with which a family can do, and to spend more than $10 means luxury. A

quarter of the Chinese and nearly half of the Manchus spend less than $5 for light and fuel. For servants these things are furnished.

Rent. Rent in this district is comparatively low. It ranges from $5 to $12 per year, and amounts to from 5 per cent to 12 per cent of the total expenditure. The best house in the district can be rented for $15 and would be fairly comfortable as a shelter for stock.

Servants are housed at the college.

Miscellaneous. The average amount available for miscellaneous expenditures ranges from nothing for Manchu families of the lowest class to a maximum of $13.60 for the same people in their highest class. The range for Chinese is much more modest. Their lowest class has $1.40 and their highest has $5.60. We have already seen the reason for this lies in the willingness of the Manchu to cut down on necessities in order to save for this item.

Luxuries combined with "other necessities" for servants show them to spend a larger proportion of their incomes for this purpose than the above families do. Probably coming in contact with a higher standard of living in their work is responsible for this.

Average amount sent home. Among the servants the big item is the amount sent home to the families dependent on them. The average amount spent on self varies from $42.50 to $55, but the average amount sent home varies from less than $1.00 to $63.30. Living among them has been largely standardized, which accounts for this large surplus.

VII. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

Four general conclusions may be reached from the study of the foregoing tables.

1. As the general expenditure increases, the average size of the family is larger.

2. As the general expenditure increases, the average amount spent for food and for rent increases but the per cent shows a regular and definite tendency to decrease.

3. As the general expenditure increases, both the average amount and the per cent spent for clothing and miscellaneous items show a regular and a definite tendency to increase.

4. As the general expenditure increases, the average amount spent for light and fuel increases perceptibly but the per cent shows only a slight tendency in the same direction.

The above conclusions vary from those reached by Engel in the same manner that the American investigations have varied. They hold for food and luxuries (miscellaneous) but not for the rest. As in America the per cent spent for clothing increases and the per cent spent for rent decreases. In China, however, the per cent spent on light and fuel shows a slight tendency to increase while in America it decreases. This is explained by the fact already mentioned that many families in the survey gather from the fields half the fuel they consume, and some of them, most of it. This accounts for the rapid increase in the average expenditure for light and fuel as the family income becomes large enough to relieve the family of this burden.

VIII. COMPARISON WITH OTHER INVESTIGATIONS

Figure I is a comparison of our investigation with four other investigations of the subject. The purpose of the

FIGURE I

A COMPARISON OF THE EXTREMES OF VARIATION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF EXPENDITURE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES BETWEEN THE HIGHEST AND THE LOWEST INCOME GROUPS IN FIVE INVESTIGATIONS1

United States Bureau of Labor. 33 States. 1901. 25440 families.

(a) Chinese dollars. Exchange value fluctuates greatly but is normally about $.50.