Seasonal and Spatial Variations in Demand for and Elasticities of Fish Products in the United States: An Analysis Based on Market‐Level Scanner Data

Abstract

Seasonally and spatially varying demand elasticities would provide important information to seafood producers and marketers as well as policy makers. We analyzed the effects of season and space on (i) demand (translation effects) and (ii) price as well as expenditure elasticities of demand (scaling effects) for 13 finfish species in the United States. The paper used market‐level scanner data for 52 U.S. markets. Results suggest that not only the quantity demanded, but also the demand elasticities vary across species, seasons, and geography; not only does the degree of competition among finfish products vary considerably over space, but substituting products themselves change. These results highlight the importance of studying consumer demand behavior at species level, across seasons and geography, particularly as it sheds important light on some important policy issues such as the potential substitution between catfish and tilapia in the U.S. markets.

Análise do consumo domiciliar de pescados no Brasil utilizando dados da POF 2017-2018

“…Internacionalmente, diversos estudos buscaram compreender fatores determinantes da demanda e do consumo de pescados. Tais estudos evidenciam que fatores como preço, renda, sazonalidade e localização geográfica apresentam grande influência no consumo desse tipo de proteína (Bronnmann, 2016;Bronnmann et al, 2019;Chidmi et al, 2012;Del Valle et al, 2017;Dey et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2014;Vassilopoulos et al, 2012).…”

Food Sources and Expenditures for Seafood in the United States

“…Americans spend $102 billion each year on seafood, predominantly at food service venues (e.g., restaurants, institutional food) [ 7 ], however, this finding has not been independently verified. Retail scanner data can explain market trends among grocery shoppers by product, region, and season [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], but these analyses have been limited to frozen and canned seafood and do not include fresh seafood. Consumers note preferences to purchase familiar types of seafood, which limits the demand for diverse fish types [ 11 ].…”

Advertising with Supply Control: Some Implications of Norwegian Whitefish Export Promotion

“…We also tested for the significance of the Norwegian salmon price as a driver of whitefish export demand following Fousekis and Revell (2004) and Singh, Dey, and Surathkal (2012 and 2014) among others. Like the whitefish export price, the Norwegian salmon export price was exchange-rate adjusted and deflated by the FAO aquaculture price index.…”