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A Note on Income Heterogeneity, Dietary Choice and Medical Services: Implications for Health Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Pedro Gomis-Porqueras

    (Department of Economics, Monash University)

  • Junsang Lee

    (Korea Development Institute)

Abstract

We present a theoretical framework where agents take into account the fact that their dietary choice affects their health status and hence their life expectancy. The literature that explains the relationship between income heterogeneity, health status and life expectancy has focused on the medical service channel whereby the wealthier spend more on medical services. In this note we propose an alternative mechanism -- the dietary choice channel. This channel takes into account how the quality of food directly impacts an individual's health and life expectancy. service channel whereby the wealthier spend more on medical services. In this note we propose an alternative mechanism – the dietary choice channel. This channel takes into account how the quality of food directly impacts an individual's health and life expectancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Gomis-Porqueras & Junsang Lee, 2011. "A Note on Income Heterogeneity, Dietary Choice and Medical Services: Implications for Health Outcomes," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 31(1), pages 699-707.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-10-00314
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Diet; Health Production Function; Income Heterogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior

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