Assessing Dietary Patterns in Turkiye: The Role of Income, Demographics, and Lifestyle in Bovine Meat Consumption

ABSTRACT This study investigates the socioeconomic and demographic determinants of bovine meat expenditure in Turkiye, utilizing data from the 2019 Household Budget Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). By employing linear regression model estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) alongside conditional quantile regression (CQR) and unconditional quantile regression (UQR), we provide a comprehensive analysis of how various factors influence meat expenditure across different quantiles of the income distribution. Our findings indicate that income, age, education, homeownership, and marital status are significant determinants of bovine meat expenditure. Notably, the CQR model reveals that the impact of income on meat expenditure is more pronounced at higher quantiles of the conditional expenditure distribution, indicating that households with higher conditional meat expenditures exhibit greater responsiveness to income changes. In contrast, the UQR model shows a diminishing effect of income at higher quantiles, highlighting different expenditure patterns when considering the entire distribution. Additionally, lifestyle factors such as eating out and participation in sports activities significantly affect meat consumption, with wealthier households displaying more diverse dietary preferences. These insights highlight the importance of targeted policies to improve nutrition and public health, particularly by enhancing the affordability and accessibility of animal‐based proteins for lower‐income households. Rather than relying solely on broad supply‐side measures, such as livestock imports, demand‐side interventions—including targeted food assistance programs and nutrition education campaigns promoting home‐prepared balanced meals—may offer more effective solutions, especially for lower‐ and middle‐expenditure groups.