The global economic and regulatory determinants of household food waste generation: A cross-country analysis

Waste Manag. 2016 Feb:48:418-422. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2015.11.040. Epub 2015 Dec 8.

Abstract

Food is generally wasted all along the supply chain, with an estimated loss of 35percent generated at the consumer level. Consequently, household food waste constitutes a sizable proportion of the total waste generated throughout the food supply chain. Yet such wastes vary drastically between developed and developing countries. Using data collected from 44 countries with various income levels, this paper investigates the impact of legislation and economic incentives on household food waste generation. The obtained results indicate that well-defined regulations, policies and strategies are more effective than fiscal measures in mitigating household food waste generation.

Keywords: Cross-country; Economic incentives; Household food waste; Legislative framework.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Developing Countries
  • Family Characteristics
  • Food / economics*
  • Food Supply
  • Garbage*
  • Internationality
  • Models, Economic
  • Public Opinion
  • Public Policy
  • Refuse Disposal / economics*
  • Refuse Disposal / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Refuse Disposal / statistics & numerical data*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Social Class
  • Waste Products / analysis*

Substances

  • Waste Products