Transmission of beef and veal prices in different marketing channels

This paper investigates price transmission in beef and veal markets in Switzerland. We extend earlier research by analyzing both prices in one system and considering two different marketing channels for meat. VAR and VEC models are estimated using monthly up- and downstream prices collected at the processors’ level for 2004-2013. Tests on Granger causality for these markets suggest that a) multiple product investigation should be preferred over beef (or veal) only analysis and b) the results for the same product can differ across marketing channels. In both channels, veal (and not beef) prices adjust significantly if deviations from the long-run price equilibrium occur. Nonetheless, no empirical evidence can be found that downstream industries exercise market power over producers. In all marketing channels, no significant asymmetry in price transmission is found.