Abstract
This analysis of food imports used an enhanced gravity model of trade, with food imports from approximately 136 countries from 2004 to 2014. Using improved panel data techniques, we show that total income, inflation in the food exporting country, corruption perception in the food exporting country, trade openness in the food exporting economy, GCC membership are important determinants of food imports by Qatar. In addition, we show that Qatari food imports mostly originate in countries with, on average, similar economic sizes. Finally, Qatar’s factor endowment is dissimilar to those of most of its trading partners, a situation that potentially fosters international food trade in accordance with the Heckscher–Ohlin theory of trade.
Acknowledgment
This publication was made possible by the NPRP award (NPRP 8-1040-5-148) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
Appendix
Appendix A Description of food chapters
| 1 | Live Animals |
| 2 | Meat and Edible meat offals |
| 3 | Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates |
| 4 | Dairy produce; bird’s eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin |
| 5 | Products of Animal origin, |
| 6 | Live trees and other plants, bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage |
| 7 | Edible vegetables and certain roots and Tubes |
| 8 | Edible fruits and nuts; peel of citrus or melons |
| 9 | Coffee, tea, mat and spices |
| 10 | Cereals |
| 11 | Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; insulin; wheat gluten |
| 12 | Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medical plant; straw and fodder |
| 13 | Lac; Gums; resins and other vegetables saps and extracts |
| 14 | Vegetable plaiting materials, vegetables products |
| 15 | Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetables waxes |
| 16 | Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates |
| 17 | Sugar and sugar confectionery |
| 18 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations |
| 19 | Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk, pastry cooks’ products |
| 20 | Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plant |
| 21 | Miscellaneous edible preparations |
| 22 | Beverages, spirits and vinegar |
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