The Structure of U.S. Red Meat and Livestock Imports

The Flexible nonlinear almost ideal demand systems are estimated for U.S. import demand for red meat and livestock (live cattle and hogs). In estimating the model, expenditure endogeneity is imposed. Estimates of price elasticity suggest that fresh and frozen beef and live cattle are price elastic. Pork, sheep meat and hogs, on the other hand, are price inelastic. The study also finds that frozen beef and sheep meat, both mainly supplied by Australia and New Zealand, are expenditure elastic; whereas fresh beef, pork, live cattle and hogs are expenditure inelastic.