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Free Trade Agreements and World Obesity

Author

Listed:
  • Michele Baggio

    (Department of Economics, University of Connecticut, USA)

  • Alberto Chong

    (Department of Economics, Georgia State University, USA)

Abstract

We study the causal link between trade openness via free trade agreements and obesity rates. We apply a difference-in-differences approach and exploit the year a country entered a free trade agreement with the United States during the period 1990 to 2016. We find statistically and economically significant results and show that our findings are robust to placebo tests, the use of synthetic control methods, and mechanically maximizing the sample. Additionally, we show that when using event studies the equal trends assumption holds.

Suggested Citation

  • Michele Baggio & Alberto Chong, 2019. "Free Trade Agreements and World Obesity," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1914, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper1914
    as

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    File URL: https://icepp.gsu.edu/files/2019/08/paper1914.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. Dmitry Arkhangelsky & Susan Athey & David A. Hirshberg & Guido W. Imbens & Stefan Wager, 2021. "Synthetic Difference-in-Differences," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(12), pages 4088-4118, December.
    6. Offer, Avner & Pechey, Rachel & Ulijaszek, Stanley, 2010. "Obesity under affluence varies by welfare regimes: The effect of fast food, insecurity, and inequality," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 297-308, December.
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    9. Goryakin, Yevgeniy & Lobstein, Tim & James, W. Philip T. & Suhrcke, Marc, 2015. "The impact of economic, political and social globalization on overweight and obesity in the 56 low and middle income countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 67-76.
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    11. Offer, Avner & Pechey, Rachel & Ulijaszek, Stanley, 2010. "Obesity under affluence varies by welfare regimes: The effect of fast food, insecurity, and inequality," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 297-308, December.
    12. Dragan Miljkovic & Saleem Shaik & Silvia Miranda & Nikita Barabanov & Anais Liogier, 2015. "Globalisation and Obesity," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(8), pages 1278-1294, August.
    13. Barlow, Pepita & McKee, Martin & Basu, Sanjay & Stuckler, David, 2017. "Impact of the North American free trade agreement on high-fructose corn syrup supply in Canada: a natural experiment using synthetic control methods," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 102665, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adu, Derick T. & Li, Wenying & Sawadgo, Wendiam P.M., 2023. "Estimating the unintended impact of the North American free trade agreement on U.S. public health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    2. López Giral, Dorotea & Muñoz Navia, Felipe & Cáceres Bustamante, Javiera, 2022. "The Chile-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement: a synthetic control assessment," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), December.

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