Per capita income as a determinant of meat consumption in three cities in China

The per capita income of Chinese people has been increasing since the introduction of the economic and political Reforms in the 1980s; and at the same time, a transition in the dietary patterns has been occurring, from a diet mainly based on food grains and vegetables to more meat products. There are several causes attributed to this change including urbanisation, modernisation, availability, and income. However, it is unclear whether solely changes in income have contributed to more meat consumption. Therefore, this study investigates whether income is a determinant of meat consumption in three heterogeneous cities of China and the different meat consumption patterns across low, middle and high income strata. Drawing on the data collected by surveying 358 meat and non-meat consumers from Shanghai, Xi’an and Yichang, findings of the study suggest that income has a direct influence over meat consumption; pork is more consumed than beef.