In this paper we examine the role of relative food prices in determining people overweight since as healthful foods become more expensive relative to un-healthful foods, theory predicts to substitute healthy foods with to a less healthful diet. With respect to the current literature, we use a cohort dataset constructed from a series of cross-sections of the ISTAT Italian Household Budget Survey (1997-2004) to account for heterogeneous behaviours of households. Our estimations do not reject the hypothesis test though these substitution effects appear to be relevant for the younger cohorts aged between 30-45. Because these patterns are focused on younger generations and seems to support breaks in the previous dynamics it calls into question if government should intervene in "correcting" the current patterns of food consumption.
Obesity and socio-economic determinants: evidence from Italy
PIERONI, Luca;LANARI, Donatella;SALMASI, LUCA
2011
Abstract
In this paper we examine the role of relative food prices in determining people overweight since as healthful foods become more expensive relative to un-healthful foods, theory predicts to substitute healthy foods with to a less healthful diet. With respect to the current literature, we use a cohort dataset constructed from a series of cross-sections of the ISTAT Italian Household Budget Survey (1997-2004) to account for heterogeneous behaviours of households. Our estimations do not reject the hypothesis test though these substitution effects appear to be relevant for the younger cohorts aged between 30-45. Because these patterns are focused on younger generations and seems to support breaks in the previous dynamics it calls into question if government should intervene in "correcting" the current patterns of food consumption.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
