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An Exploration of the Relationship Between Income and Eating Behavior

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  • Chen, Susan E.
  • Liu, Jing
  • Binkley, James K.

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between income and eating behavior. To do this we examine choice in two food categories: milk and soft drinks. These categories have varieties differing in health qualities but either no differences in cost or lower cost for the healthier types. By examining food choices when there are no measurable cost differences but clear health differences, we are able to isolate the association between income and healthy eating behavior. We find a negative association between income and dietary intake of higher-calorie types of milk and soft drinks. Our estimates are consistent across the five sets of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals data that we study. For 2005 we estimate that an income increase of $10,000 is linked to a reduction in 377 calories from milk and 2,555 calories from soft drinks per year. Our results suggest that the cost of food may not be the only reason why low income people have less healthy diets.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Susan E. & Liu, Jing & Binkley, James K., 2012. "An Exploration of the Relationship Between Income and Eating Behavior," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 41(1), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:arerjl:123315
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.123315
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    Cited by:

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    2. Young, Jeffrey S., 2021. "Measuring palatability as a linear combination of nutrient levels in food items," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    3. Liu, Chang & Yi, Fujin & Xu, Zhigang & Tian, Xu, 2021. "Do living arrangements matter?—Evidence from eating behaviors of the elderly in rural China," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    4. Shamma Adeeb Alam & Bijetri Bose, 2022. "Stepping into adulthood during a recession: Did job losses during the Great Recession impact health of young adults?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(8), pages 1730-1751, August.
    5. Ademola Adekunle & Darwin Lyew & Valérie Orsat & Vijaya Raghavan, 2018. "Helping Agribusinesses—Small Millets Value Chain—To Grow in India," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-11, March.
    6. He, Xi & Lopez, Rigoberto A. & Boehm, Rebecca L., 2018. "Medicaid Expansion and Sugar Consumption in Carbonated Soft Drinks," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273909, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Young, Jeffrey S. & Binkley, James K., 2020. "Low Income and Access to Healthy Food: The Case of Milk," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304539, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Akaichi, Faical & Ciera, Nichola & Revoredo-Giha, Cesar, 2021. "Urban Consumers’ Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Orphan Crop Products: Evidence from a Choice Experiment on Porridge in Kenya," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315371, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Veronika Keller & Adrienn Dernóczy-Polyák & Rugiyya Alasgarova, 2019. "Eating styles of young females in Azerbaijan," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 16(1), pages 43-60, March.

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