Fundamentals of Price Analysis in Developing Countries' Food Systems: A Training Manual to Accompany the Microcomputer Software Program 'MSTAT'

In market-oriented economies, agricultural markets and marketing functions become increasingly important as the food system evolves. This paper focuses on how selected dimensions of markets and marketing functions can be studied and evaluated in Third World settings. The specific purpose of this paper is to review fundamental price and related market analysis techniques which are and can be used in developing country food system applications. In so doing the objective is also to focus on identifying food system problems, techniques for improved interpretation of price analysis results and means of dealing with the all too common problem of data limitations. A second purpose of this paper is to serve as a "Training Manual" to accompany "MSTAT."