The purpose of this study is to explore the question of how similar or how different are
equivalence scales of selected countries in the Asia‐Pacific region. In particular, the article
investigates whether equivalence scales for Australia, the Philippines and Thailand are
comparable. That the Philippines and Thailand are two countries which are strikingly similar
in their levels of socioeconomic development suggests the possibility that the relative
income needs of households of different sizes in these countries are similar. In contrast …