[Stretching the income in the demand for food and other goods in marginal urban populations in the city of Guatemala].
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of changes in income and retail prices on the consumption of foods by low income groups living in Guatemala. A representative sample of 200 low-income families living in a marginal area of Guatemala City, known as "El Milagro", was studied. Of five surveys conducted, two concerned food demand exclusively. In the first one the food consumption survey used was the 24-hr recall method, and the second survey was related to income expenditures, obtaining weekly information on expenses on foods and in other items. The expenditures were utilized to estimate the elasticity of demand, including foods. Total family expenses were used as an estimation of total income. Analyses of the data were obtained by forming three income groups: families with per capita expenses below the per capita cost of the foods basket; families with per capita expenses within the cost of the food basket, and the cost of a modified food basket (all expenses); families with an income above the modified food basket. The analyzed data clearly confirmed that: a) food expenses increase less as a response to income increases than expenses for other family needs; the income elasticity for foods high in carbohydrates content is lower with respect to food of animal origin and the income elasticity of the demand for rice and wheat bread are higher in comparison to the more basic foods such as beans, maize and maize products, roots and tubers.
Alarcón
J A
JA
Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá (INCAP), Guatemala.
Immink
M D
MD
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics*; D005502:Food / Q000191:economics*; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012494:Sampling Studies
Elasticidad ingreso de la demanda de alimentos y otros bienes en grupos de población marginal urbana de la ciudad de Guatemala.