Demand for Beef and Chicken Products: Separability and Structural Change

Abstract

Abstract Dynamic almost ideal demand systems are estimated for meat aggregates and for disaggregated meat products. Tests for weak separability show that consumers choose among meat products rather than meat aggregates such as “beef” or “chicken.” Therefore, tests for structural change in the meat aggregates may be biased. Tests for structural change in the meat products show an exogenous constant annual 6.4% growth in chicken parts demand from 1965 to 1985 and a 3.5% decline in beef table cut demand after 1974. Increased demand for convenience may explain these changes.