PRICE AND QUALITY COMPONENTS OF IMPORTS OF FOOD-PRODUCTS INTO THE UK

This paper analyses the principal factors responsible for the growth i n the value of imports of the UK food sector, during the period 1985-9 0. On the basis of estimates of translog multilateral price indices it assesses the relative contribution of changes in the quality of impor ted products and factors other than quality to growth in import values of food products. The main conclusion is that growth in quality appea rs to be the principal reason for the growth in unit values of imports and the trade deficit incurred by the food manufacturing sector.