The costs of shortages/rationing are not captured by standard consumer price indices. Thus the change in real GDP per capita is an over estimate of welfare losses in transition economies. In this study virtual prices are used to calculate new cost of living indices, making it possible to...

The costs of shortages and rationing are not captured by standard consumer price indices. Thus the change in real GDP per capita is an over estimate of welfare losses in transition economies. In this study virtual prices are used to calculate new cost of living indices (CLI). The results for...

This study tests hypothesis derived from the theory of rationing using data for Polish households during the transition. The demand system consists of six commodity groups, and virtual prices are derived for the rationed goods. The empirical results are consistent with the theory: larger...