Several models are proposed for analyzing consumer demand systems. Empirical researchers usually, adopt one or more models and test some constraints based on demand theory, and then evaluate the plausibility of the models. However, they rarely adopt a statistical model selection procedure in...

We propose simple modifications for the Kakwani tax progressivity measure that make it suitable for evaluating access inequality for medical services. Our modification is to measure inequality using the ratio of the concentration index to the Gini coefficient instead of the difference between...

Using the Atkinson inequality measure of income distribution, we analyze the impact of China as a single country and examine the effect of its domestic income inequality on total income inequality among East Asian countries. First, we find that China's domestic income inequality exacerbated...

In this article, we investigate the impact of BSE and bird flu on consumers' meat demand in Japan by using the 'almost ideal' demand system. The BSE and bird flu scares brought about a fall in demand for beef and chicken, respectively, and an upturn in demand for pork and fishery products, which...

The life cycle/permanent income hypothesis (LCPIH) makes two postulates: people behave with rational expectations, and people do not have self-control problems. If either or both of these postulates do not apply, we cannot obtain a testable implication of the LCPIH. We use Japanese panel data...

By estimating long-run relationships in bilateral import functions, the effects of the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement is analysed. We also incorporate the gradual switching model into the import function to capture the phased tariff reductions. The result shows that the free trade agreement made...

We investigate causal relationships among exports, imports, and economic growth in North Korea using time series data for the period between 1964 and 2008. The empirical results show Granger causality from imports to GNP in the first half of the period and from GNP to imports in the second half....