Abstract
The spending response of households to transitory income shocks, the marginal propensity to spend (MPX), is a key sufficient statistic for understanding shock propagation in macroeconomic models. We estimate and dissect the MPX by combining Norwegian lottery prizes and card transaction data observed at a high frequency. The MPX is large and front-loaded: a substantial share of the prize is spent within the first year. Durable goods account for a share of the response several times their normal share of spending, and their response is concentrated at the win. We relate these patterns to models in which durables are adjusted infrequently and in lumps.