An econometric comparison of uk and german foreign holiday behaviour

Econometric models which explain the generation and distribution of foreign holidays undertaken by UK and German residents are constructed and estimated. These comprise the basic model, a less constrained transformation and a modified model which incorporates supply constraints and habit persistence. Both versions of the basic model are shown to exhibit a structural break across the two sets of origin data, suggesting that habit and/or supply factors are important. The empirical findings also imply that the British regard foreign holidays as luxuries whereas Germans view them as necessities.