CONSUMERS DECISIONS WHETHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE MEAT - A DOUBLE HURDLE ANALYSIS OF SINGLE ADULT HOUSEHOLDS

Limited dependent variable models are employed to determine factors influencing UK household meat purchase behaviour. The standard Tobit approach is rejected. ''Double hurdle'' models, specifically the Cragg and Complete Dominance versions, provide a better representation of the factors that influence the separate decisions of participation and expenditure levels. Key results show that employment class and adult gender are significant determinants of participation but not expenditure; income affects both decisions but in opposite directions; education affects expenditure alone.