Title
Income and price elasticities of bushmeat demand in lowland Amerindian societies
Author(s)
Wilkie, D. S., and R. Godoy
Published
2001
Publisher
Conservation Biology
Abstract
Consumption of bushmeat is an important component of household economies in most tropical forested regions of the world and is resulting in unsustainable levels of hunting, even in relatively isolated regions. We conducted standardized surveys of household consumption, income, wealth, and education level among Amerindian societies in Central and South America. Results suggest 1) demand for bushmeat may follow an inverted ∪ pattern with income, 2) consumers, particularly the most well-off, reduce their consumption of bushmeat as the price increases; and 3) a small decrease in the price of meat from domesticated animals is likely to lead to a large decrease in the consumption of fish but not of bushmeat. Policy makers may be able to reduce demand for bushmeat by raising the price of bushmeat, by increasing the direct and opportunity costs of hunting, and by raising household income.
Keywords
Food consumption; Food market; Income; Indigenous population; Nature conservation; Price dynamics; Tropical forest
Full Citation
Wilkie, D. S., and R. Godoy. 2001. Income and price elasticities of bushmeat demand in lowland Amerindian societies. Conservation Biology 15:1-9.

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