Determinants of Vegetarianism and Meat Consumption Frequency Eimear Leahy, Seán Lyons & Richard Tol

Methane emissions by commodity Meat consumption increased by 250% set to double by 2050 Increasing world population Increasing wealth in less developed countries Portion sizes increasing

Methane emissions by region Limited scope for reducing methane emissions by technical measures

Vegetarianism and Income

Determinants of Vegetarianism: Literature The factors affecting meat demand have been studied at a micro level -in Ireland Newman et al. (2001) -in the USA Nayga (1995) -in the UK Burton et al. (1994, 1999, 2004) -in Japan Chern et al. (2002) -in Mexico by Gould et al. (2002) Meat demand is affected by income, household size, education level and professional status. Motivations of vegetarians have been studied but small or unrepresentative samples used -Beardsworth and Bryman (1999): 350 first year undergraduates -Jabs, Devine and Sobal (1998): middle class vegetarian group, 19 respondents -Fox and Ward (2008): online message board: 33 respondents

Vegetarianism in England 0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 3.5% All-vegetarian households Vegetarians

Vegetarianism in Ireland

Data Health Survey for England ,102 adults, 7,521 children -In 2008 the focus was on physical activity and fitness -also questions on eating and drinking habits, general health, bmi, income, education level, socio-economic status, ethnicity, marital status, region -consumption of red and white meat: 6+ times a week, 3-5, 1-2, <1, rarely or never Vegetarian Definition : someone that does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or by-products of slaughter - We also analyse the frequency of fish consumption

Data 2007 Survey of Lifestyles, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) in Ireland 10,364 adults aged 18 and over - range of questions about general health, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity - also contains information on income and other socio-economic variables -9,223 adults completed a food frequency questionnaire -Consumption of medium sized portions of 21 meat items; less than once a month or never, one–three times per month, once a week, two-four times per week, 5-6 times per week, once a day, 2-3 times per day, 4-5 times per day or 6 or more times per day -7 categories of fish included

Methods Separate analyses for adults and children in England, just adults in Ireland Vegetarianism: Logit model. Dependent variable =1 if respondent does not eat meat/fish, 0 otherwise 1.6% do not eat meat in Ireland, >4% in England 0.94% vegetarian in Ireland, 2.2% in England Pescetarianism: Dependent variable = 1 if respondent does not eat meat but does eat fish, 0 otherwise 0.66% pescetarian in Ireland, 2% in England Analysis of meat and fish consumption frequency -ordered logit model -combined red meat, white meat and fish consumption scales >5% eat meat 2-4 times a week or less in Ireland, 23% in England

Results: England VegetarianPescetarian BMI-- Fruit & Veg++ HH size-- Female++ Other vegetarians++ Asian+- Age- Days drinking- Widowed- Divorced people in workplace+ Degree or higher level of education+

Results: Ireland VegetarianPescetarian BMI-- Fruit & Veg++ HH size- Single++ Educ_junior-- VegetarianPescetarian €10,000-€19,999-alcohol_monthly+ €20,000 -€20,999-alcohol_never+ €30,000 -€39,999-excellent health- €40,000 - €40,999-poor health+ age_18-29-self employed+ age_45-64-unemployed+ born other-widowed+ town- cohabiting+ student+

Frequency Results: England Meat ConsumptionMeat and Fish Consumption HH size++ BMI++ Units of alcohol++ Alcohol days per week++ Fruit & Veg+ Asian-- A level++ O level++ £100,001 - £150,000++ Divorced-- Single-- Female- Southwest-- Yorkshire and Humber- East- London- Cohabiting- Other vegetarians in hh-

Frequency Results: Ireland Also important for meat frequency: Dublin – Cohabiting – Separated - Meat ConsumptionMeat and Fish Consumption HH size++ BMI++ Female-- Active-- Watch weight-- Smoker++ Fruit & Veg++ Alcohol Monthly or less-- Age Age Age 65 and over-- Born in GB-- €30,000-€30,999++ €40,000-€40,999++ Diploma-- Degree-- Higher degree-- Professionals-- Farmer++ Student--

Vegetarianism and Income: England

Vegetarianism and Income: Ireland

Conclusion Vegetarianism increasing over time in England and Ireland Strong relationship between meat consumption and health related variables (e.g. fruit and veg, BMI) but as of yet we cannot tell the direction of causation Marital status, age and household size also important Pescetarianism is a life style choice as indicated by workplace and employment choices Household size, health variables, education level and alcohol consumption important in explaining the frequency of meat consumption Income significant in Ireland but not in UK. U- shaped relationship exists for income levels up to €50,000