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The structure and evolution of consumption patterns

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  • Oriol Gisbert-Martí

    (UNU-MERIT)

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between economic development and macroeconomic consumption patterns using trade data and international input–output tables. We measure the similarity between a country’s consumption patterns and those of G7 economies using the Kullback–Leibler divergence. We then employ panel-data regression methods to analyze changes in the relationship between income and consumption over time. Our findings indicate a positive relationship between a country’s income and the similarity of its consumption patterns to G7 economies, with consumption patterns converging more rapidly than income from the 1980s until the Great Recession of 2008–2012.

Suggested Citation

  • Oriol Gisbert-Martí, 2026. "The structure and evolution of consumption patterns," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 1-42, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:36:y:2026:i:1:d:10.1007_s00191-025-00932-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-025-00932-7
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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