Reconciling Chinese Meat Production and Consumption Data

Frank H. Fuller, Dermot J. Hayes, Darnell B. Smith
February 1999  [99-WP 210]

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Suggested citation:

Fuller, F.H., D.J. Hayes, and D.B. Smith. 1999. "Reconciling Chinese Meat Production and Consumption Data." Working paper 99-WP 210. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University.


Abstract

Suggests that apparent inconsistencies in published statistics for China's livestock sector raise questions about the validity of the underlying data. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of the magnitude of the discrepancies, and considers the implications of using published statistics as the basis for research. The authors use stylized facts to construct two alternative data sets that may be closer to actual production and consumption levels.