Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 April 2015
Periods of reduced supplies due to exogenous shocks and subsequent high price levels have occurred for many agricultural commodities in the past decade. Consumers' adjustments to these events depend on the magnitude of the shocks and characteristics of the commodity. Understanding consumers' responses to these events requires recognition of rigidities that result in delays in consumer responses to prices.
Recognition of rigidities in consumption relationships by using dynamic stock and flow adjustment models was popularized by Houthakker and Taylor [2]. The models recognize the role of inventories and habits resulting from previous purchase patterns in determining current consumption decisions.