Analysis of inequality in the consumption of foodstuffs and beverages - the example of the Czech Republic

• Published in: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 255 - 266
• Main Authors: Mala, Z., Ceska Zemedelska Univ., Prague (Czech Republic). Katedra Ekonomiky, Cervena, G., Ceska Zemedelska Univ., Prague (Czech Republic). Katedra Ekonomiky
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mendel University Press 2012
• Subjects: ACEITES; AGRUME; AGUA MINERAL; AGUARDIENTES; ALIMENTOS; ANALISIS ECONOMICO; ANALYSE ECONOMIQUE; APPLES; ARROZ; AVES DE CORRAL; AZUCAR; BAKERY PRODUCTS; BANANAS; BANANE; BANANO; BEBIDAS; BEEF; BEERS; BEURRE; BEVERAGES; BIERE; BISCUIT; BISCUITS; BOISSON; BREAD; BUTTER; CAKES; CARNE DE CERDO; CARNE DE RES; CERVEZAS; CHEESE; CHILI DULCE; CHOCOLAT; CHOCOLATE; CITRUS FRUITS; CONCOMBRE; CONSUMER EXPENDITURE; consumption; CONSUMPTION FUNCTIONS; CORPS GRAS; CUCUMBERS; CZECH REPUBLIC; DEPENSE DES CONSOMMATEURS; EAU DE VIE; EAU MINERALE; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; EGGS; expenditures; FARINE DE BLE; FATS; FISH; FONCTION DE CONSOMMATION; FOODS; foodstuffs; FROMAGE; FRUIT JUICES; FRUITS A NOYAU; FRUTAS CITRICAS; FRUTAS DE HUESO; FUNCIONES DEL CONSUMO; GALLETAS; GASTOS DE CONSUMO; GATEAU; Gini coefficient; GRASAS; HARINA DE TRIGO; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_0; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1071; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1162; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1186; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1507; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15903; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16475; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2502; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_25511; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4826; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5334; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5621; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6120; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6145; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6599; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6824; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_785; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_861; HUEVOS; HUILE; inequality; JUGO DE FRUTAS; JUGO DE HORTALIZAS; JUS DE FRUITS; JUS DE LEGUME; LAIT; LECHE; LEGUMES; LEGUMINEUSE; LEGUMINOSAS; MANTEQUILLA; MANZANA; MILK; MINERAL WATERS; OEUF; OILS; PAIN; PAN; PAPA; PASTA; PASTAS ALIMENTICIAS; PASTELES; PATE ALIMENTAIRE; PEARS; PEPINO; PERA; PESCADO; PIMENT DOUX; POIRE; POISSON (ALIMENT); POMME; POMME DE TERRE; PORK; POTATOES; POULTRY; PRODUCTOS DE PANADERIA; PRODUIT ALIMENTAIRE; PRODUIT DE CUISSON; QUESO; REPUBLICA CHECA; REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE; RICE; RIZ; SALCHICHA; SAUCISSE; SAUSAGES; SPIRITS; STONE FRUITS; SUCRE; SUGAR; SWEET PEPPERS; TOMATE; TOMATOES; VEGETABLE JUICES; VIANDE BOVINE; VIANDE PORCINE; VIN; VINOS; VOLAILLE; WHEAT FLOUR; WINES
• ISSN: 1211-8516; 2464-8310
• DOI: 10.11118/actaun201260040255

This report focuses on the assessment of the rate of inequality in the consumption of foodstuffs and beverages by households in the Czech Republic. It analyzes the said inequality on the basis of data from the Family Account Statistics for the period of 2001-2009. The main methodical tools for the performed analysis are the quantification of the Gini coefficient of natural consumption and the consumption expenditures for foodstuffs and beverages of Czech households, the construction, quantification and verification of consumption functions. The obtained results evidence a greater balance in the consumption of foodstuffs and beverages than what is shown by the allocation of the overall expenditures or income of Czech households. At the same time, the said inequality in the consumption of foodstuffs and beverages is characterized by a slightly declining tendency in time. With regard to individual categories of foodstuffs and beverages, the greatest inequality can be defined in the case of dispensable commodities, which are consumed by quantitatively wealthier strata of the population, who are simultaneously willing to pay a higher price for them. Thus, for a number of commodities, we can note the greater quality of foodstuffs and beverages consumed by higher income groups. These commodities may primarily be characterized as having a greater price elasticity. On the other hand, there are foodstuffs in the case of which consumers react more flexibly to changes in income, but whose consumption is relatively stable. Therefore, inequality of consumption is not unequivocally associated with income elasticity, but rather with price elasticity.