Tobit analysis of canned fish consumption in Erzurum province, Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to determine the attitudes and behaviors of consumers towards canned fish consumption and to analyze the factors affecting the consumption of canned fish in the Erzurum province, Turkey. Data were collected from 384 households through one-on-one interviews in Erzurum province. The proportional sampling method was used for sampling. In addition, the Tobit model was used to determine the factors affecting the consumption of canned fish. In the model, the demographic characteristics of the consumers and their consumption quantities were included as explanatory. The average household size was 4.46 individuals, and canned fish consumption was 161.69 g·year-1 per capita. Canned fish accounted for 11.50% of household fish consumption. The proportion of families consuming canned fish was 25.78%. As household fish consumption increases by 1 kg per year, canned fish consumption decreases by 1.29%. Moreover, when the price of canned fish increases by USD 1, canned fish consumption increases by 1.37%. When monthly fish expenditure increases by USD 1, consumption of canned fish increases by 0.48%. The fact that the head of the household is a civil servant increases the consumption of canned fish by 5.23%, and the consumption of canned fish is 11.8% higher in families who consider canned fish nutritious. As a result, canned fish enterprises shouldinfluence consumers to consume more canned fish, especially in the summer.