The Empirical Analysis of Income and Food Consumption Structure of Urban Residents in China

摘要

Using the panel data of food income and expenditure, this study further analyzes how income influences on food consumption structure based on analysis of evolution characteristics of income and food consumption structure of urban residents in China during 2000-2010 year. In addition, the study compares the difference of food consumption structure of eastern, central and western areas in China. The results are showed as following: with the improvement of income level, the Engel's coefficients keep falling. At the same time, the food consumption structure upgrade from single staple food to the diversification equilibrium of staple and non-staple food and significant difference of food consumption structure exist in different regions and income level. Therefore, the government should speed up the pace of economic development, improve the level of residents income, adjust the food industry structure and improve the income distribution pattern.