consumers in the eu and united states are some times regarded as being very different his 1976 book joyless economy tibor scitovsky refers to greater choosiness of european buying public discusses many differences us food preferences however there a number similarities consumption trends occurring patterns originally came from europe along with immigrant populations but recent decades have traveled extent that rising incomes drive higher mean will experience ahead connor 1994 additionally both exhibit variation among regions although variability seems be within this article examines finds percentage income spent on prices given somewhat lower definitely for characteristics specific types