Trends in Household Food Expenditures and Income Elasticity in Slovakia in the Pandemic and Post-pandemic Period

Jozef Palkovič

DOI 10.7160/aol.2026.180304
No 3/2026, September
pp. 41-50

Palkovič, J. (2026) "Trends in Household Food Expenditures and Income Elasticity in Slovakia in the Pandemic and Post-pandemic Period", AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 41-50. ISSN 1804-1930 DOI 10.7160/aol.2026.180304.

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of food security in Slovakia during the pandemic and post-pandemic years (2020-2023), with a focus on economic access to food. Using household data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the study examines changes in income, the share of food expenditures, and income elasticity across regions and demographic groups. The findings show that while household incomes remained relatively stable during the pandemic, the post-pandemic period was marked by rising food prices that outpaced wage growth. As a result, the share of income spent on food increased from 14% in 2020 to 17% in 2023. Data suggests differences between regions: Bratislava recorded the lowest share (12%), whereas Nitra reached 20%. Vulnerability was greatest among retirees, while rural households demonstrated slightly better resilience, likely due to their higher levels of self-sufficiency. Although income elasticity improved overall, disparities widened in 2023 between urban and rural areas. These results underline the need for targeted policies to address affordability and regional inequalities in order to strengthen food security under conditions of economic stress.

Keywords

Food security, food expenditure, income elasticity, regional disparities, demographic vulnerability

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