The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On

The system-wide approach to demand analysis emphasises the interrelatedness of all n elements of the consumption basket and leads to a set of demand equations characterised by n income elasticities and an n × n matrix of own- and cross-price elasticities. This approach is now used on a routine basis...

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Main Authors: Clements, K., Gao, Grace
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier BV * North-Holland 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29923
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author Clements, K.
Gao, Grace
author_facet Clements, K.
Gao, Grace
author_sort Clements, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The system-wide approach to demand analysis emphasises the interrelatedness of all n elements of the consumption basket and leads to a set of demand equations characterised by n income elasticities and an n × n matrix of own- and cross-price elasticities. This approach is now used on a routine basis in CGE modelling, the measurement of the deadweight loss of distortions in consumption and a number of other areas in applied economics. Half a century ago, Barten (1964) and Theil (1965) formulated the Rotterdam model, now an important member of the system-wide family. A path-breaking innovation, this model allowed for the first time rigorous testing of the theory of the utility-maximising consumer. This has led to a vibrant, on-going strand of research on the theoretical underpinnings of the model, extensions and numerous applications. But perhaps due to its European heritage and unorthodox derivation, there is still misunderstanding and a tendency for the Rotterdam model to be regarded with reservations and/or uncertainties (if not mistrust). This paper marks the golden jubilee of the model by clarifying its foundations, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, elucidating its links with other models of consumer demand, and dealing with some recent developments that have their roots in Barten and Theil's pioneering research of the 1960s.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-299232017-09-13T15:28:26Z The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On Clements, K. Gao, Grace The system-wide approach to demand analysis emphasises the interrelatedness of all n elements of the consumption basket and leads to a set of demand equations characterised by n income elasticities and an n × n matrix of own- and cross-price elasticities. This approach is now used on a routine basis in CGE modelling, the measurement of the deadweight loss of distortions in consumption and a number of other areas in applied economics. Half a century ago, Barten (1964) and Theil (1965) formulated the Rotterdam model, now an important member of the system-wide family. A path-breaking innovation, this model allowed for the first time rigorous testing of the theory of the utility-maximising consumer. This has led to a vibrant, on-going strand of research on the theoretical underpinnings of the model, extensions and numerous applications. But perhaps due to its European heritage and unorthodox derivation, there is still misunderstanding and a tendency for the Rotterdam model to be regarded with reservations and/or uncertainties (if not mistrust). This paper marks the golden jubilee of the model by clarifying its foundations, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, elucidating its links with other models of consumer demand, and dealing with some recent developments that have their roots in Barten and Theil's pioneering research of the 1960s. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29923 10.1016/j.econmod.2015.03.019 Elsevier BV * North-Holland restricted
spellingShingle Clements, K.
Gao, Grace
The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On
title The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On
title_full The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On
title_fullStr The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On
title_full_unstemmed The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On
title_short The Rotterdam Demand Model Half A Century On
title_sort rotterdam demand model half a century on
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29923