Investigating the Welfare Effects Caused by Price Changes of Protein-Consumed Food Stuffs in Urban Households

Authors

Abstract

Abstract
Given that most government policies through mechanisms relative price change is done, it is necessary the effects of price changes on economic welfare is measured. This paper investigates the welfare effects caused by price changes of protein food stuffs in urban households. For this purpose, using urban household information, almost ideal demand system was estimated. The findings of expenditure elasticity of urban households show that meat, poultry, fish and shrimp and its products, and milk and its products are not elastic. The results of compensated own-price elasticity showed that the sensitivity of urban households to price change of meat and fish and shrimp is low compare to other protein food stuffs. If the price of protein food stuffs is doubled, the welfare of urban households is decreasing about 48 percent.

JEL Classification: D19, I38, Q11

Keywords:
Protein Food Stuffs, Two-Stage QUAIDS Model, Welfare Effects, Iran