title: Consumption of food away from home in Bangladesh: Do rich households spend more?
abstract: While consumption of food away from home (FAFH) is an established phenomenon among households in the developed countries, FAFH is a growing phenomenon in many middle-income and rapidly growing developing countries. Although, studies are available on the factors affecting consumption of FAFH in developed countries, there is a paucity of such studies in developing countries. This study examines households' choice of and expenditures on FAFH. We used information from Bangladeshi households and applied a double-hurdle regression model estimation procedure. Findings show that, in general, rich households are spending proportionately less on FAFH and, over time, the trend is continuing. Although households with female members who work in the non-farm sector are more likely to consume FAFH, educated household heads and spouses, and particularly urban households are less likely to consume and spend on FAFH. As the problem of food adulteration by dishonest sellers is rampant in Bangladesh, perhaps it discourages rich, urban and households headed by educated heads and spouses to consume and spend more on FAFH. Based on the findings, some points of interventions are also prescribed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Economist, Socioeconomics Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Carretera México-Veracruz Km. 45, El Batán, Texcoco, México, C.P. 56237, Mexico. Electronic address: k.mottaleb@cgiar.org.
authors.forename: Khondoker A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mottaleb
authors.affiliation: Program Manager, Socioeconomics Program, CIMMYT, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dil Bahadur
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rahut
authors.affiliation: Kemper and Ethel Marley Chair, Morrison School of Agribusiness, W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, 235M Santan Hall, 7231 E. Sonoran Arroyo Mall, Mesa, AZ, 85212, USA. Electronic address: Ashok.K.Mishra@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D001459:Bangladesh; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D011203:Poverty; D012147:Restaurants; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Double-hurdle model; Food safety; Food-away-from-home; Household behavior; Income; Schooling