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Income Elasticities of Food Demand in Africa: A Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia C Melo

    (James Hutton Institute)

  • Yakubu Abdul-Salam

    (James Hutton Institute)

  • Deborah Roberts

    (James Hutton Institute)

  • Alana Gilbert

    (James Hutton Institute)

  • Robin Matthews

    (James Hutton Institute)

  • Liesbeth Colen

    (European Commission – JRC)

  • Sergio Gomez Y Paloma

    (European Commission – JRC)

Abstract

In order to combat malnutrition, economists and policymakers need to understand how food demand will change, as the continent further develops. Especially, a better understanding of, first, the factors underlying the relation between income and food demand, and, second, how this relation is changing according to the income level and/or characteristics of the country under study, may help improve the design and implementation of nutrition policies. There are a number of studies that have estimated the relation between income growth and food demand in Africa, but the resulting estimates are highly heterogeneous. This report provides a systematic review of the existing literature on income elasticities of food demand in Africa. Using a meta-analysis approach, this report identifies the factors determining the relation between food demand and income. Further research could usefully explore in greater detail some of the patterns identified and, in doing so, contribute to the design of policies aimed at addressing malnutrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia C Melo & Yakubu Abdul-Salam & Deborah Roberts & Alana Gilbert & Robin Matthews & Liesbeth Colen & Sergio Gomez Y Paloma, 2015. "Income Elasticities of Food Demand in Africa: A Meta-Analysis," JRC Research Reports JRC98812, Joint Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc98812
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    File URL: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC98812
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Femenia, Fabienne, 2019. "A Meta-Analysis of the Price and Income Elasticities of Food Demand," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 68(2), June.
    3. Baumüller, Heike & Kubik, Zaneta & Dallimore, Anthea & Getahun, Tigabu Degu & Velia, Myriam, 2021. "Impact of Covid-19 on Africa’s Food and Beverage Manufacturing Companies: Evidence from Selected African Countries," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315183, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Derek Headey & Kalle Hirvonen & John Hoddinott, 2018. "Animal Sourced Foods and Child Stunting," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 100(5), pages 1302-1319.
    5. Choudhury, Samira & Headey, Derek D., 2016. "What drives diversification of national food supplies? A cross-country analysis," IFPRI discussion papers 1581, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. David Chilosi & Giovanni Federico, 2021. "The effects of market integration during the first globalization: a multi-market approach," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 25(1), pages 20-58.
    7. Tagel Gebrehiwot & Carolina Castilla, 2018. "Do safety net transfers improve household diets and reduce undernutrition? Evidence from rural Ethiopia," Working Papers PMMA 2018-03, PEP-PMMA.

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    Keywords

    Food demand; elasticity; Sub-Saharan Africa; malnutrition; food security;
    All these keywords.

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