Modelling the Demand for Meat in Bangladesh

The demand for meat is on the rise in Bangladesh because of income and population growth together with increasing urbanisation in the country. This paper models the demand for the three types of meat in Bangladesh, chicken, beef and mutton, using data for the period 2000–2017. The results show that meat, as a group, is a necessity for Bangladesh consumers and demand for meat is price inelastic. Chicken is found to be a luxury consumption item and price elastic. The cross-price elasticity indicated that chicken and beef are complements, while chicken and mutton are substitutes. Our elasticity estimates also revealed that beef is a necessity and is price inelastic while mutton is an inferior meat type and is price inelastic in Bangladesh. This study provides new insights into the meat consumption patterns in Bangladesh, particularly when the country is experiencing a considerable growth in incomes.