Economic growth, globalization and beer consumption

We analyze the evolution of beer consumption between countries and over time. Historically, there have been major changes in beer consumption in the world. In recent times, per capita consumption has decreased in traditional beer drinking countries while it increased strongly in emerging economies. Recently, China has overtaken the US as the largest beer economy. A quantitative empirical analysis studies the relation between economic growth, globalization and beer consumption. The relationship between income and beer consumption has an inverse U-shape. Beer consumption initially increases with rising incomes; but at higher levels of income beer consumption falls. Increased globalization has contributed to a convergence in alcohol consumption patterns across countries. In countries that were originally beer drinking countries, the share of beer in total alcohol consumption reduced, while this is not the case in countries which traditionally drank mostly wine or spirits.

Publication year:2016

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BOF-publication weight:1

CSS-citation score:3

Authors from:Higher Education

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