Spanish food expenditure away from home (FAFH): by type of meal

Abstract

Changes in household income, wife's labour force participation, household size, and other demographic factors influence purchasing meals away from home in Spain. Spanish household expenditure on lunch, breakfast and snacks away from home were investigated within the household production theory context. The Becker's model states that consumers maximize their utility subject not only to the budget constraint but also to a time constraint. Moreover, this model assumes that consumers demand not only the food product itself but also the associated convenience to save time in food preparation. Therefore, the relation between the value of time and food away from home has a high relevance. Data come from the Spanish Continuous Household Survey for 1996. Due to the large number of zeros in the dependent variable, different dependent variable censured models (Double Hurdle, Infrequency of Purchase, etc.) have been specified and estimated. These studies found that food purchasing behaviour away from home of Spanish consumers differ by type of meal. Income, household characteristics and the opportunity cost of woman time are important factors determining food consumption patterns away from home. Moreover, income and opportunity cost of woman time present a positive effect on away from home consumption for type of meal.