Files

Abstract

Using Comparative Price Level data for food and food products, we analysed a process of convergence in prices of these products among EU countries over the period 1999-2014. The analysis confirms the existence of beta and sigma convergence processes for overall food prices. The rate of beta convergence for overall food was 3.5%, and the half-life coefficient was 20.1 years. Beta convergence has been demonstrated for all food groups (breads and cereal products, meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs, oils and fats, fruits, vegetables and potatoes), but rate of catch-up effect was differentiated. The severity of the convergence process sigma varied in different periods. The decrease of price differentiation occurred in 1999-2008, but formal accession in 2004 did not affected it’s pace. The sigma convergence process for food prices has not occurred after 2008, since the financial crisis.

Details

PDF

Statistics

from
to
Export
Download Full History