Coffee Index as Quick and Simple Indicator of Purchasing Power Parity
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Statistika: Ekonomicko-statistický časopis. |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://www.czso.cz/documents/10180/61266317/32019718q1006.pdf/eec3b2de-71df-48e0-b8a5-0274a5894ca8?version=1.0 |
| Keywords | Price index; purchasing power parity; Big Mac Index; Nespresso Index |
| Attached files | |
| Description | Purchasing Power Parity is the corner stone of all international comparisons. Various approaches to Purchasing Power Parity, such as the Big Mac Index, KFC Index, iPad Index, Tall Latte Index or Ikea Index were popularized to the broader audience besides the OECD Purchasing Power Parity indices. The aim of this paper is to develop a new ready-to-use quick and simple index based on the prices of Nespresso coffee’s capsules and show the main challenges of such indices as well as of the PPP concept. For the purpose of our research the data on the Nespresso capsules prices were collected. Taking into account also the popularity (demand side) of the capsules types, the Espresso line was chosen as the basis for which all further calculations are made. The Nespresso Index provides us with clear evidence that the Law of One Price cannot work in recent world because of three key features. Firstly, differences in taxes make the perfect parity impossible. Secondly, the price discrimination prevents the rational subjects from arbitrage. Finally, the changes in the exchange rate make such indices highly volatile. Despite these weaknesses, the Nespresso Index could be used as the useful supplement of the OECD PPP as it is low cost, easy and fast to compute and digestible for the lay public. |
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