Food purchases differ substantially across countries. We use detailed household level data from the US, France and the UK to (i) document these differences; (ii) estimate a demand system for food and nutrients, and (iii) simulate counterfactual choices if households faced prices and nutritional characteristics from other countries. We find that differences in prices and characteristics are important and can explain some difference (e.g., US-France difference in caloric intake), but generally cannot explain many of the compositional patterns by themselves. Instead, it seems an interaction between the economic environment and differences in preferences is needed to explain cross country differences.
Authors
CPP Co-Director, IFS Research Director
Rachel is Research Director and Professor at the University of Manchester. She was made a Dame for services to economic policy and education in 2021.
Aviv Nevo
Research Fellow Toulouse School of Economics
Pierre is a Research Fellow at the IFS, a Professor of Economics at the Toulouse School of Economics and a co-editor of the JEEA.
Report details
- Publisher
- National Bureau of Economic Research
Suggested citation
P, Dubois and R, Griffith and A, Nevo. (2013). Do prices and attributes explain international differences in food purchases?. NBER: National Bureau of Economic Research. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/do-prices-and-attributes-explain-international-differences-food-purchases (accessed: 4 May 2024).
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