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

Abstract

MALÁ, Z., ČERVENÁ, G.: Analysis of inequality in the consumption of foodstuff s and beverages -the example of the Czech Republic. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2012, LX, No. 4, pp. 255-266 The report focuses on the assessment of the rate of inequality in the consumption of foodstuff s 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 quantifi cation of the Gini coeffi cient of natural consumption and the consumption expenditures for foodstuff s and beverages of Czech households, the construction, quantifi cation and verifi cation of consumption functions. The obtained results evidence a greater balance in the consumption of foodstuff s and beverages than which 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 foodstuff s and beverages is characterized by a slightly declining tendency in time. With regard to individual categories of foodstuff s and beverages, the greatest inequality can be defi ned 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 foodstuff s 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 foodstuff s in the case of which consumers react more fl exibly 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.