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Nudging parental health behavior with and without children's pestering power: Fat tax, subsidy or both?

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  • Papoutsi, Georgia
  • Nayga, Rodolfo
  • Lazaridis, Panagiotis
  • Drichoutis, Andreas

Abstract

Using a discrete choice experiment with real economic incentives, this paper studies one of the most well-known governmental mechanisms of nudging consumers towards a healthier way of eating, namely food fiscal policies. The experimental design varies food prices of healthier and unhealthier alternatives of food products for children as part of specific food fiscal policies. We also examine the interplay of children’s pestering power as well as information about the fiscal policies. Results from our lab experiment suggest that (a) implementing a fat tax and a subsidy simultaneously can nudge parents to choose healthier food products, (b) that providing information regarding the food fiscal policies in place can further increase the impact of the intervention, and (c) kid’s pestering power is one of the causes of the policies’ moderate effectiveness as it strongly affects parents in making unhealthier choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Papoutsi, Georgia & Nayga, Rodolfo & Lazaridis, Panagiotis & Drichoutis, Andreas, 2013. "Nudging parental health behavior with and without children's pestering power: Fat tax, subsidy or both?," MPRA Paper 52324, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:52324
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    Cited by:

    1. Irz, Xavier & Mazzocchi, Mario & Réquillart, Vincent & Soler, Louis-Georges, 2015. "Research in Food Economics: past trends and new challenges," Revue d'Etudes en Agriculture et Environnement, Editions NecPlus, vol. 96(01), pages 187-237, March.
    2. Marette, Stéphan & Issanchou, Sylvie & Monnery-Patris, Sandrine & Ginon, Emilie & Sutan, Angela, 2016. "Are children more paternalistic than their mothers when choosing snacks?," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 61-76.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Choice experiment; Fat tax; Subsidy; Information; Pestering power;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General

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