Pattern, Expenditure and Inequality in Food and Non-Food Consumption among Rural Households-A Micro Level Study in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This study attempts to study consumption pattern in relatively smaller region household consumption choices are location specific and vary highly in micro environments. Results reveal that households incur more or less equal expenses on food and non-food commodities. Within food expenditure, more than half of the share spent on high value foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk and meat. Price, income and cross elasticities obtained through econometric analysis. Thus, results reflect the macroeconomic behaviour of shift in consumption towards high value foods. Gini indices are higher for traditional foods like cereals and pulses whereas they lower for milk and meat.