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The effects of nutrition support on behavioral outcomes and labor productivity

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  • Park, Seollee
  • Kim, Hyuncheol Bryant

Abstract

While many of the world’s poor consume inadequate calories with low nutritional value, there has been little work on how this may shape their behaviors and productivity. Using lab-in-the-field and field experiments in the context of a floriculture plant in Ethiopia, this study investigates the effects of a nutrition support program on behavioral outcomes—stress, prosociality, cooperation, and attention—and productivity. We find that nutrition support relieves stress and decreases prosociality, exhibiting a pattern of hedonic adaptation over time. We do not find evidence for improvements in labor productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Park, Seollee & Kim, Hyuncheol Bryant, 2026. "The effects of nutrition support on behavioral outcomes and labor productivity," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:179:y:2026:i:c:s0304387825001646
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103613
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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