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Getting a healthy start: The effectiveness of targeted benefits for improving dietary choices

Author

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  • Griffith, Rachel
  • von Hinke, Stephanie
  • Smith, Sarah

Abstract

There is growing policy interest in encouraging better dietary choices. We study a nationally-implemented policy – the UK Healthy Start scheme – that introduced vouchers for fruit, vegetables and milk. We show that the policy has increased spending on fruit and vegetables and has been more effective than an equivalent-value cash benefit. We also show that the policy improved the nutrient composition of households' shopping baskets, with no offsetting changes in spending on other foodstuffs.

Suggested Citation

  • Griffith, Rachel & von Hinke, Stephanie & Smith, Sarah, 2018. "Getting a healthy start: The effectiveness of targeted benefits for improving dietary choices," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 176-187.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:58:y:2018:i:c:p:176-187
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2018.02.009
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. O’Connell, Martin & Smith, Kate & Stroud, Rebekah, 2022. "The dietary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
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    3. Rachel Griffith, 2022. "Obesity, Poverty and Public Policy," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(644), pages 1235-1258.
    4. Charness, Gary & Cobo-Reyes, Ramón & Eyster, Erik & Katz, Gabriel & Sánchez, Ángela & Sutter, Matthias, 2023. "Improving children's food choices: Experimental evidence from the field," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dietary choices; Targeted benefits; Healthy Start scheme;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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