Income per consumption unit (equivalent income) - in order to be able to compare the incomes of different types of households, the household income is normally adjusted using equivalence scales or consumption weights. Net income is calculated per consumption unit. These consumer weights take into account that large households need higher incomes than small households in order to have an equivalent standard of living, and also that large households will benefit from economies of scale with regard to some goods (e.g. TV, washing machine, newspapers, electricity costs etc.). There are numerous types of equivalence scales but there is no consensus of opinion on which scale is the best.