Income-elasticity of poultry meat consumption in metropolitan areas of Brazil

Studies on the meat market behavior may result in interesting parameters for the market and public policy agents. The definition of the income-elasticity of poultry consumption enables the elaboration of prospective analysis on the potential demand of this product. Thus, the main objective of the present study is to estimate the income-elasticities of poultry consumption. Data from the 1995-96 and 1987-88 Consumer Expenditure Survey, published by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), were used in the analysis. The elasticities were obtained by fitting a three-segment polygonal curve relating the logarithm of the per capita poultry meat consumption as a function of the per capita family income. Generalized Least Squares method was used for the econometric model fitting. The elasticities were obtained considering the total, carcasses and selected individual poultry parts consumption. Average income elasticity of the total consumption enables the classification of poultry meat as a normal product. The observed average income elasticities showed that breast and thighs are superior products. In the last period, a negative elasticity was observed for carcasses.