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Obesity and low-carb diets in the united states: A herd behavior model

Author

Listed:
  • Dragan Miljkovic

    (Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5636)

  • Daniel Mostad

    (ConAgra Trade Group, Omaha, NE 68102)

Abstract

We propose that consumer herding is a plausible explanation of the popularity of low-carb diets in the United States. This proposition was empirically tested using per capita consumption of both broilers and eggs as proxies of the popularity of low-carb diets. Results confirm that people do not always make (perfectly) rational choices, even when a good signal or correct information is available to them. Instead, they choose to do what everyone else is doing. In addition, we could not conclusively determine that an increase in media reports about low-carb diets led to further increase in the popularity of low-carb diets. [JEL: D12, D82, Q18]. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 23: 421-434, 2007.

Suggested Citation

  • Dragan Miljkovic & Daniel Mostad, 2007. "Obesity and low-carb diets in the united states: A herd behavior model," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(3), pages 421-434.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:agribz:v:23:y:2007:i:3:p:421-434
    DOI: 10.1002/agr.20131
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lopez Barrera, Emiliano & Shively, Gerald, 2022. "Excess calorie availability and adult BMI: A cohort analysis of patterns and trends for 156 countries from 1890 to 2015," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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