The Transformation of Hunger: The Demand for Calories Past and Present

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic History
Year: 2009
Volume: 69
Issue: 2
Pages: 388-408

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

According to conventional income measures, American and British industrial workers in the late nineteenth century were two to four times as wealthy as those in developing countries today. Estimated calorie expenditure elasticities of American and British industrial workers based on the 1888 Cost of Living Survey are greater than calorie elasticity estimates for developing countries today, which suggest that yesterday's wealthy workers were hungrier than today's poor. The result is robust to numerous criticisms. The finding implies an extraordinary improvement in nutritional well-being among the poor in the last century that has not been captured by our income estimates.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jechis:v:69:y:2009:i:02:p:388-408_00
Journal Field
Economic History
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25