Trade, Tastes and Nutrition in India

David Atkin

No 60710, Center Discussion Papers from Yale University, Economic Growth Center

Abstract: This paper introduces habit formation into an otherwise standard model of international trade. Household tastes evolve over time to favor foods consumed as a child. The opening of trade causes preferred goods to rise in price, as these were relatively inexpensive in autarky. Neglecting the correlation between tastes and agro-climatic endowments overstates the short-run nutritional gains from agricultural trade liberalization and masks potential caloric losses for laborers. I examine the predictions of this model of trade with habit formation using household survey data from India, both by looking across Indian regions and by examining the consumption patterns of inter-state migrants.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Crop Production/Industries; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; International Development; International Relations/Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 83
Date: 2010-04
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Trade, Tastes, and Nutrition in India (2013)
Working Paper: Trade, Tastes and Nutrition in India (2013)
Working Paper: Trade, Tastes and Nutrition in India (2010)
Working Paper: Trade, tastes and Nutrition in India (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:yaleeg:60710

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.60710

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