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Оценка ценовой эластичности спроса на алкогольную продукцию (водку) в группах с разным уровнем дохода
Alcohol consumption is a significant social and economic problem for a number of countries. This is due to both the negative health consequences for the population and the high economic costs to the state, as well as the loss of human capital. Among the most effective measures
to reduce alcohol consumption are price controls, such as minimum prices and excise taxes on alcoholic beverages [1]. In Russia, these measures are also being used; however, since 2014, their effectiveness has been declining, as the amount of vodka and beer available for purchase with the average wage has increased. Since 2017, per capita alcoholic beverage consumption has increased, calculated as pure alcohol, from 7.2 to 7.7 liters [2]. Over the past several decades, many studies, both Russian and international, have examined the response of population demand
for alcoholic beverages to price changes by assessing the average elasticity of alcohol consumption for the entire population [3–14]. However, these indicators provide little information about how pricing policy will affect individual consumers or the consumption of specific beverage categories. First of all, people with different income levels may react differently to price increases. If in Russia, low-income groups have the highest consumption of strong alcohol [15], then, given the addictive nature of this product, giving up strong alcohol may be difficult. If, however, we assume
the opposite, that the price elasticity of consumption among the poorest groups
is quite high, as was the case in India [10], then the price instruments of state anti-alcohol policy, conversely, will be most effective for the poorest
population groups. Accordingly, given the need to improve the effectiveness of anti-alcohol policy in Russia, studying the reactions of consumers
with different income levels to changes in alcohol prices is of particular importance.
The purpose of this study is to determine how changes in vodka prices affect vodka consumption across different income groups.