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Nutrition Transition and Changing Food Preferences in India

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  • Cherry Law
  • Iain Fraser
  • Matloob Piracha

Abstract

We present empirical evidence on how changes in food preferences have contributed to nutrition transition, where the dietary pattern of households shifts away from traditional staples. Using household‐level time series cross‐section survey data for India, we estimate time varying demand elasticities, revealing evidence of the declining importance of cereals in Indian household diets. The estimates show that Indian demand for cereals has become more income inelastic and price elastic. We also find that cereals are a substitute rather than a complement to animal products in household diets. Since changes in elasticities can only be attributed to variation in utility parameters, this indicates that cereals are losing favour with Indian households. These findings have implications for Indian food policy design and implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Cherry Law & Iain Fraser & Matloob Piracha, 2020. "Nutrition Transition and Changing Food Preferences in India," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(1), pages 118-143, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jageco:v:71:y:2020:i:1:p:118-143
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-9552.12322
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinru Han & Ping Xue & Wenbo Zhu & Xiudong Wang & Guojing Li, 2022. "Shrinking Working-Age Population and Food Demand: Evidence from Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Christophe Muller & Nouréini Sayouti, 2019. "How Do Agro-Pastoral Policies Affect the Dietary Intake of Agro-Pastoralists? Evidence from Niger," AMSE Working Papers 1917, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France, revised Apr 2020.
    3. repec:hal:cdiwps:halshs-02532955 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Siddiqui, Zakaria & Donato, Ronald, 2020. "The dramatic rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in India: Obesity transition and the looming health care crisis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    5. Hussein, Mohamud & Law, Cherry & Fraser, Iain, 2021. "An analysis of food demand in a fragile and insecure country: Somalia as a case study," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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