Estimating Demand Elasticities of Meat Demand in Slovakia

This article focuses on assessing consumer beliefs, attitude and behaviour towards meat. The aim is to obtain estimates of price and income elasticity of meat demand in Slovakia. This report analyses pork, poultry and beef meat consumption in Slovakia according to the individual households’ social categories. The Household Budget Survey of the Slovak Statistical Office was used for period 1993-2007. The data consists of yearly observations of beef, pork and poultry consumption, average annual consumer prices of beef, pork and poultry meat and net income per capita. Knowing the values of demand elasticities for food is widely used to correct policy formation and analysing trade patterns all over the world, but especially in developing countries where food expenses represent relatively large shares of consumer budgets.