An analysis of the impacts of household size and composition on food expenditure in Haiti

Abstract

In this study, the problem of malnutrition in Haiti is examined from a food expenditure perspective. Using data from the Haiti household consumer expenditure survey, first a tabular analysis is done to describe the food expenditure patterns. Then, the effects of household size and composition, and total expenditure on food expenditures are examined by estimating Engel relationships. Household composition is introduced in the general and specific scales, and household size effects models. Income elasticities and weights for six age-sex categories are calculated from the parameter estimates. The empirical findings are used to describe the impacts of household size and composition and total expenditure on food expenditures in terms of income elasticities, weights of the six age sex categories, and in terms of economies of scale with respect to the age sex categories.