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The Impact of Food and Economic Crises on Diet and Nutrition

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  • Ralitza Dimova
  • Ira N. Gang
  • Monnet B.P. Gbakou
  • Daniel Hoffman

Abstract

The conventional view is that inelastic demand makes consumption of staple foods resilient to major price and income shocks. We explore the dietary and nutritional implications of a major shock in Bulgaria in the mid-1990s with data from before, during and after the shock. While demand for foodstuffs may remain relatively unchanging in environments characterised by stable food prices and incomes, economic crises and significant price spikes appeared to induce dramatic changes in price and income demand elasticities. We therefore suggest the use of caution in basing policy prescriptions on randomly available pre-crisis simulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralitza Dimova & Ira N. Gang & Monnet B.P. Gbakou & Daniel Hoffman, 2014. "The Impact of Food and Economic Crises on Diet and Nutrition," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(12), pages 1687-1699, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:50:y:2014:i:12:p:1687-1699
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2014.957274
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    2. Pierre-Emmanuel Darpeix, 2019. "Literature review on the consequences of food price spikes and price volatility," Working Papers hal-02072329, HAL.
    3. Harris, Patrick, 2020. "To what extent has climate change impacted the Total Factor Productivity of the Australian beef industry by state and as a country?," MPRA Paper 100795, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Sandoval M, Luis A. & Carpio, Carlos E., 2020. "The nutritional impact of policies: reduced form models versus consumer demand systems," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304215, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Pierre-Emmanuel Darpeix, 2019. "Literature review on the consequences of food price spikes and price volatility," PSE Working Papers hal-02072329, HAL.

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