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Políticas fiscales como herramienta para la prevención de sobrepeso y obesidad
[Fiscal policies to prevent obesity in Mexico]

Author

Listed:
  • Cahuana-Hurtado, Lucero
  • Rubalcava-Peñafiel, Luis
  • Sosa-Rubi, Sandra

Abstract

One of three adults in Mexico is obese, therefore, policies to reduce overweight and obesity prevalence in the country were designed. The use of fiscal policy was proposed as a way to discourage the consumption of soft drinks and raise funds to pay health services used by obese patients. The aim of this chapter, published in 2012, was to open the debate on the use of fiscal policy as a tool for the prevention of overweight and obesity in Mexico. Arguments for and against fiscal policies are discussed and outlined. The case of the soft drinks market is examined and the challenges for the design and implementation of a tax policy are discussed. The evidence presented in this chapter shows that tax policies are just one of the many tools that can be used to modify the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages. However, its effect is limited if not accompanied by other measures, such as improving access and availability of healthy goods, advertising, and product labeling.

Suggested Citation

  • Cahuana-Hurtado, Lucero & Rubalcava-Peñafiel, Luis & Sosa-Rubi, Sandra, 2012. "Políticas fiscales como herramienta para la prevención de sobrepeso y obesidad [Fiscal policies to prevent obesity in Mexico]," MPRA Paper 61288, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:61288
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fletcher, Jason M. & Frisvold, David E. & Tefft, Nathan, 2010. "The effects of soft drink taxes on child and adolescent consumption and weight outcomes," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(11-12), pages 967-974, December.
    2. Smed, Sinne & Jensen, Jorgen D. & Denver, Sigrid, 2007. "Socio-economic characteristics and the effect of taxation as a health policy instrument," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5-6), pages 624-639.
    3. Jacobson, M.F. & Brownell, K.D., 2000. "Small taxes on soft drinks and snack foods to promote health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(6), pages 854-857.
    4. Jorge N. Valero Gil, 2006. "Estimación de elasticidades e impuestos óptimos a los bienes más consumidos en México," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 21(2), pages 127-176.
    5. World Bank, 2003. "A Guide to the World Bank," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 14757.
    6. Cash, Sean B. & Sunding, David L. & Zilberman, David, 2004. "Fat Taxes And Thin Subsidies: Prices, Diet, And Health Outcomes," 2004 Annual meeting, August 1-4, Denver, CO 19961, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    7. John Scott-Andretta, 2010. "The Incidence of Agricultural Subsidies in Mexico," Working Papers DTE 473, CIDE, División de Economía.
    8. Franco Sassi, 2010. "Obesity and the Economics of Prevention," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14244.
    9. Chouinard Hayley H & Davis David E & LaFrance Jeffrey T & Perloff Jeffrey M, 2007. "Fat Taxes: Big Money for Small Change," Forum for Health Economics & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 10(2), pages 1-30, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Cahuana-Hurtado, Lucero & Sosa-Rubí, Sandra & Rubalcava-Peñafiel, Luis & Panopoulou, Panagiota & Rodriguez-Oliveros, Guadalupe, 2013. "Efectos heterogéneos en la demanda ante un impuesto al refresco en México [Will the poor and high consumers benefit more by obesity prevention fiscal policies? Evidence from Mexico]," MPRA Paper 61277, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Jul 2014.
    2. Hugo J. Fuentes Castro & Andrés Zamudio Carrillo, 2014. "Estimación y análisis de la elasticidad precio de la demanda para diferentes tipos de bebidas en México," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 29(2), pages 301-316.
    3. Colchero, M.A. & Salgado, J.C. & Unar-Munguía, M. & Hernández-Ávila, M. & Rivera-Dommarco, J.A., 2015. "Price elasticity of the demand for sugar sweetened beverages and soft drinks in Mexico," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 129-137.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxes; Fiscal policy; beverages; Mexico;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H00 - Public Economics - - General - - - General
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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