Reaching turning points in economic transition : adjustment to distortions in resource-based consumption of food

Food consumption changes during transition are analysed using a resource-based cereal equivalent measure to identify three defining turning points: (1) the initial drop in food consumption (experienced by all countries except Romania); (2) stabilisation of food consumption at the new, lower level (reached by CEECs and the Baltic States but not by the former USSR as a whole); (3) achievement of market consumption levels consistent with levels of real income (reached by Hungary and the former Czechoslovakia). Country agricultural self-sufficiency measures are calculated yielding policy implications as accession to the European Union is contemplated by many transitional countries. (Comparative Economic Studies / SWP)