Do Prices and Attributes Explain International Differences in Food Purchases?

47 Pages Posted: 2 Feb 2013 Last revised: 27 Mar 2022

See all articles by Pierre Dubois

Pierre Dubois

University of Toulouse 1 - Toulouse School of Economics (TSE)

Rachel Griffith

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS); University of Manchester; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Aviv Nevo

Northwestern University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: February 2013

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

Dubois, Pierre and Griffith, Rachel and Nevo, Aviv, Do Prices and Attributes Explain International Differences in Food Purchases? (February 2013). NBER Working Paper No. w18750, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2210770

Pierre Dubois (Contact Author)

University of Toulouse 1 - Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) ( email )

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Rachel Griffith

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) ( email )

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University of Manchester ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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Aviv Nevo

Northwestern University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Evanston, IL 60208
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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United States

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