How long do healthy habits last? The role of prices

No 12815, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: When a policy gives temporary incentives for healthy behaviors, how long does the impact last? I study the U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which gives vouchers for healthy foods. Using household-level scanner data, I find that the effect of the program diminishes when households become ineligible. Demand model estimates show that price differences between healthy and unhealthy foods play a large role in the decrease of the program's impact. The estimates imply that the program has a persistent effect, in that it increases the impact of subsequent policies like subsidies on healthy foods.

Keywords: Consumer behavior; Dietary choices; Long-term policy effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 I12 I38 L66 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-hea
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