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Income and Price Elasticities of Food Demand and Nutrient Consumption in Malawi

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  • Ecker, Olivier
  • Qaim, Matin

Abstract

Widespread malnutrition in developing countries calls for appropriate interventions, presupposing good knowledge about the nutritional impacts of policies. Little previous work has been carried out in this direction. We present a comprehensive analytical framework, which we apply for Malawi. Using household data and a demand systems approach, we estimate income and price elasticities of food, calorie, and micronutrient consumption. These estimates are used for policy simulations. Given multiple nutrient deficiencies, income-related policies are better suited than price policies to improve nutrition. While consumer subsidies for maize increase calorie and mineral consumption, they contribute to a higher prevalence of vitamin deficiencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ecker, Olivier & Qaim, Matin, 2008. "Income and Price Elasticities of Food Demand and Nutrient Consumption in Malawi," 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6349, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea08:6349
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.6349
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tefera, Nigussie, 2012. "Welfare Impacts of Rising Food Prices in Rural Ethiopia: a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System Approach," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126698, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Rulof Petrus Burger & Lodewicus Charl Coetzee & Carl Friedrich Kreuser & Neil Andrew Rankin, 2017. "Income and Price Elasticities of Demand in South Africa: An Application of the Linear Expenditure System," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 85(4), pages 491-514, December.
    4. Weber, Regine, 2015. "Welfare Impacts of Rising Food Prices: Evidence from India," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211901, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Kostandini, Genti & Abdoulaye, Tahirou & Erenstein, Olaf & Sonder, Kai & Gou, Zhe & Setimela, Peter & Menkir, Abebe, 2015. "Potential Impacts of Drought Tolerant Maize: New Evidence from Farm-trials in Eastern and Southern Africa," 89th Annual Conference, April 13-15, 2015, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 204219, Agricultural Economics Society.
    6. Richard Anker & Martha Anker, 2014. "Living Wage Benchmark Report: Non-Metropolitan Urban Kenya, Lake Naivasha (March 2014)," Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC) 14-01-02, Universidad Privada Boliviana.
    7. Nneli, Amarachi & Dogbe, Wisdom & Revoredo-Giha, Cesar, 2023. "Could Foods High in Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) Taxes Improve Climate Health and Nutrition in Scotland?," 97th Annual Conference, March 27-29, 2023, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 334527, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    8. Korir, Lilian & Rizov, Marian & Ruto, Eric, 2018. "Analysis of household food demand and its implications on food security in Kenya: an application of QUAIDS model," 92nd Annual Conference, April 16-18, 2018, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 273474, Agricultural Economics Society.
    9. Richard Anker & Martha Anker, 2015. "Living Wage Benchmark Report: Rural Kenya, Mount Kenya Area (June 2015)," Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC) 15-01-01, Universidad Privada Boliviana.
    10. repec:mth:jas888:v:6:y:2018:i:2:p:63-78 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Pangaribowo, Evita Hanie & Tsegai, Daniel W., 2011. "Food Demand Analysis of Indonesian Households with Particular Attention to the Poorest," Discussion Papers 116748, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    12. Rulof Petrus Burger & Lodewicus Charl Coetzee & Carl Friedrich Kreuser & Neil Andrew Rankin, 2017. "Income and Price Elasticities of Demand in South Africa: An Application of the Linear Expenditure System," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 85(4), pages 491-514, December.
    13. Kostandini, Genti & La Rovere, Roberto & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2013. "Potential impacts of increasing average yields and reducing maize yield variability in Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 213-226.

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