International Trade in Selected Processed Foods and Beverages (Beef, Beer, Economic, Marketing Theory, Distribution)
Ross, Mary Anne
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Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/69862
Description
Title
International Trade in Selected Processed Foods and Beverages (Beef, Beer, Economic, Marketing Theory, Distribution)
Author(s)
Ross, Mary Anne
Issue Date
1985
Department of Study
Agricultural Economics
Discipline
Agricultural Economics
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Economics, Agricultural
Abstract
An analytical procedure for predicting international trade in processed foods and beverages was derived from the following seven theories: absolute and comparative advantage, factor endowment, scale economy, preference similarity, trade barriers and marketing channels. They were explained, their empirical findings discussed, and hypotheses of international trade patterns anticipated on the basis of each theory were stated for processed foods and beverages generally. The hypotheses were then specified for Belgium, Japan and the US, the three countries chosen for study. The trade directions were predicted and shown on matrices at the conclusions of each of two literature review chapters.
The application of the analytical procedure for predicting international trade in processed foods and beverages focussed on the two products of beef from the meat group and beer from the beverage group in the developed country markets of Belgium, Japan and the US. Empirical information was collected and applied to each theory in each of the cases in order to study and to refine the hypotheses for predicting international trade in these commodities. The trade results for beef and beer were evaluated for 1979. The predictive accuracy of the theories was designated as affirmed or rejected on a decisional matrix arraying them with the three countries according to the six possible trade directions among them. Two theories, absolute advantage and scale economy were dropped due to lack of data.
A concluding evaluation of the five trade theories was made. The best theory and the worst theory among them with respect to predicting the international trade in processed foods and beverages were determined. This final assessment was reached by considering the two earlier matrices of the general hypotheses and comparing the anticipated trade patterns with the actual trade results for 1979. Directions for future research were indicated.
After examining a limited selection of processed foods and beverages and a small sample of countries from the developed world, the opinion reached was that preference similarity and factor endowment performed best, followed by trade barriers, marketing channels and comparative advantages. All theories did better in predicting trade in beef than in beer. This may be due to problems of product differentiation. Other differentiated products in addition to beef and beer could be studied and these cases could extend the analyses of the theories in other markets besides those of Belgium, Japan and the US.
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