International consumption patterns for proteins and fats: intra-distributional mobility and the role of income elasticity.

摘要: Abstract Stochastic kernels are used in this paper to investigate intra-distribution dynamics the world per capita intakes of proteins and fats. The analysis actual transitions over last 40 years indicates that lagging countries improved their position relative leading. Long-run (steady-state) distributions have been obtained using estimated intake change models. These compared "virtual" ones revealing income elasticity demand or equivalently rate growth does a strong influence on dispersion at steady-state. Key Words: Nutrient Intakes, Kernels JEL Classification: Q1 D12, C14 (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.) Introduction dynamic evolution dietary patterns different parts has attracted considerable attention economic research since early 1980s. Blandford (1984), Wheelock Frank (1989), Herrmann Roder (1995), Uhi (1991), Connor (1994), Gil et al. developed they found diets were getting increasingly similar; Grigg (1995) analyzed factors (e.g. economic, environmental, cultural) influencing spatial variation protein consumption; Fousekis Lazaridis (2005) investigated caloric (energy) intakes. They despite higher availability food global level, differences between low- high-intake still making, thus, convergence foreseeable future unlikely. Policy makers also keen interest international nutrient consumption both under-nutrition low-income over-nutrition more affluent accounts for significant proportion deaths chronic disease all (The World Health Report, 2002). overwhelming majority empirical studies regarding (or intakes) based so called Barro' s regression which period time is regressed an initial level other variables assumed affect growth. A negative statistically coefficient such taken imply convergence. As shown by Quah flurry papers Quah, 1993a, 1993b, 1996a, 1996b, 1997), however, Barro's regressions not quite informative about divergence. For questions related persistence (here, tendency retain rank crosssection distribution), mobility low become high opposite), attain very similar levels) club formation catching-up with one another but only within particular groups) can be properly addressed developing probability model transitions, means, law motion entire cross-section distribution. In context, objective present two nutrients, namely, While most earlier relied data from few Western OECD work relies 103 around world. investigation stochastic kernels.1 Moreover, given economists considered important determinant follows approach proposed recently Fingleton Lopez-Bazo (2003) examine effect shape long-run distributions. structured as follows. Section 2 contains analytical framework (transition density functions simulation distributions). …