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A New Year, a New You? Heterogeneity and Self-Control in Food Purchases

Author

Listed:
  • Cherchye, Laurens

    (KU Leuven)

  • De Rock, Bram

    (ECARES, Free University of Brussels)

  • Griffith, Rachel

    (University of Manchester)

  • O’Connell, Martin

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Smith, Kate

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Vermeulen, Frederic

    (KU Leuven)

Abstract

We document considerable within-person (over time) variation in diet quality that is not fully explained by responses to fluctuations in the economic environment. We propose a two-selves model that provides a structural interpretation to this variation, in which food choices are a compromise between a healthy and an unhealthy self, each with well-behaved preferences. We show that the data are consistent with this model using revealed preference methods. The extent of self-control problems is higher among younger and lower income consumers, though this is overstated if we do not control for responses to fluctuations in the economic environment. Our results are intuitively related to stated attitudes on self-control.

Suggested Citation

  • Cherchye, Laurens & De Rock, Bram & Griffith, Rachel & O’Connell, Martin & Smith, Kate & Vermeulen, Frederic, 2017. "A New Year, a New You? Heterogeneity and Self-Control in Food Purchases," IZA Discussion Papers 11205, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11205
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    3. Smeulders, Bart & Crama, Yves & Spieksma, Frits C.R., 2019. "Revealed preference theory: An algorithmic outlook," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 272(3), pages 803-815.
    4. Rachel Griffith, 2022. "Obesity, Poverty and Public Policy," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(644), pages 1235-1258.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    two-selves model; self-control; revealed preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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