Food Consumption in Jamaica: A Household and Social Behavior

This paper explores household food consumption in Jamaica and estimates the effects of related variables on the intensity of consumption. Use of data from the 2001 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions permits estimation of an Engel curve that reflects the relationship between household food consumption and related variables. As a means to investigate a possible neighborhood effect on food consumption, spatial correlations pertaining to neighborhood food consumption were tested and estimated. The estimated results can be used to help formulate policies that may produce more effective food support distribution programs.