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Fat tax or thin subsidy? How price increases and decreases affect the energy and nutrient content of food and beverage purchases in Great Britain

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  • Cornelsen, Laura
  • Mazzocchi, Mario
  • Smith, Richard D.

Abstract

•Energy and nutrient content of take-home purchases is above reference daily intake.•Demand for food is more responsive to price increases than to price decreases.•Price changes based on healthiness of food have a positive net effect on diet.•Such changes improve dietary quality of low-SES household food purchases most.•Greatest impact seen if price of sweet snacks, desserts, and fats/oils increases.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelsen, Laura & Mazzocchi, Mario & Smith, Richard D., 2019. "Fat tax or thin subsidy? How price increases and decreases affect the energy and nutrient content of food and beverage purchases in Great Britain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 318-327.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:230:y:2019:i:c:p:318-327
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.04.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Gustafson, Christopher R., 2023. "Comparing the impact of targeted subsidies and health prompts on choice process variables and food choice: The case of dietary fiber," Staff Papers 330132, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    2. Biondi, Beatrice & Cornelsen, Laura & Mazzocchi, Mario & Smith, Richard, 2020. "Between preferences and references: Asymmetric price elasticities and the simulation of fiscal policies," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 108-128.
    3. Anikó Bíró, 2021. "The impact of sweet food tax on producers and household spending—Evidence from Hungary," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(4), pages 545-559, July.
    4. Law, Cherry & Smith, Richard & Cornelsen, Laura, 2022. "Place matters: Out-of-home demand for food and beverages in Great Britain," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. Gustafson, Christopher R., 2023. "Comparing the impact of subsidies and health prompts on choice process variables and food choice: The case of dietary fiber," OSF Preprints u4v5c, Center for Open Science.

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