[Relationship between Economic Development, Price Level and Calorie Intake: the Case of Tunisia] | Relation entre développement économique, niveau des prix et ingestion de calories: cas de la Tunisie
2002
Dhehibi, B. (Unité d'Economie Rurale, Saragosse (Espagne) Service de la Recherches Agro-alimentaire | Gil, J.M. | Khaldi, R
The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between the economic development and the evolution of calorie intake in Tunisia, as well as its distribution among the main food categories. The methodology used is based on a two-step estimation procedure. First, total calorie intake is estimated as a function of per capita income using an inverse-logarithm functional form. A decreasing income elasticity is assumed as well as the existence of a threshold of 3268 kcal/capita/day. In a second step, total calories are distributed among the different food products. To analyse the demand for food calorie intake in Tunisia, a multi-equational econometric system with time series data for different dynamic versions of the GADS (Generalized Addilog Demand System) are specified and estimated. It also allows to select the appropriate functional form (Error Correction Model, Autoregressive Model, Partial Adjustment Model and Static Model). Results from functional form tests indicate that the model in autoregressive form fits better the data and is consequently used for calories intake demand analysis. Results show that calorie share elasticities significativeness with respect to, both, total calorie intake and prices, show that increases in total calorie intake will not modify diet structure, prices being the main determinants of changes in food consumption.
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