In this paper, we examine the role of relative food prices in determining the recent increase in body weight in Italy. Cross-price elasticities of unhealthy and healthy foods estimated by a demand system provide a consistent framework to evaluate substitution effects, when a close association is assumed between unhealthy (healthy) foods and more (less) energy-dense foods. We used a dataset constructed from a series of cross-sections of the Italian Household Budget Survey (1997-2005) to obtain the variables of the demand system, which accounts for regional price variability. The relative increase in healthy food prices was found to produce nontrivial elasticities of substitution towards higher relative consumption of unhealthy foods, with effects on weight outcomes. In addition, these changes were unevenly distributed among individuals and were particularly significant for those who were poorer and had less education. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

Pieroni, L., Lanari, D., Salmasi, L., Food prices and overweight patterns in Italy, <<THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS>>, 2010; 14 (1): 133-151. [doi:10.1007/s10198-011-0350-y] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/117973]

Food prices and overweight patterns in Italy

Salmasi, Luca
2013

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the role of relative food prices in determining the recent increase in body weight in Italy. Cross-price elasticities of unhealthy and healthy foods estimated by a demand system provide a consistent framework to evaluate substitution effects, when a close association is assumed between unhealthy (healthy) foods and more (less) energy-dense foods. We used a dataset constructed from a series of cross-sections of the Italian Household Budget Survey (1997-2005) to obtain the variables of the demand system, which accounts for regional price variability. The relative increase in healthy food prices was found to produce nontrivial elasticities of substitution towards higher relative consumption of unhealthy foods, with effects on weight outcomes. In addition, these changes were unevenly distributed among individuals and were particularly significant for those who were poorer and had less education. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
2013
Inglese
Pieroni, L., Lanari, D., Salmasi, L., Food prices and overweight patterns in Italy, <<THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS>>, 2010; 14 (1): 133-151. [doi:10.1007/s10198-011-0350-y] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/117973]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/117973
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