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US Farm Subsidies and Obesity

In: The Effects of Farm and Food Policy on Obesity in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Julian M. Alston

    (University of California)

  • Abigail M. Okrent

    (United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service)

Abstract

The idea that farm subsidies contribute significantly to obesity and that reducing these subsidies would go a long way toward solving the problem has been popular among the mainstream media and in policy circles. However, economists who have evaluated the issue have consistently found that farm subsidies have had negligible impacts on US obesity patterns. If anything, farm income support policies, including various subsidies and price supports, have made fattening food more expensive and reduced US obesity. New evidence from our updated economic simulation model reinforces that view and the conclusion that reformulation of farm subsidies would be ineffective and even counterproductive as a way of fighting US obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian M. Alston & Abigail M. Okrent, 2017. "US Farm Subsidies and Obesity," Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, in: The Effects of Farm and Food Policy on Obesity in the United States, chapter 7, pages 159-201, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:psachp:978-1-137-47831-3_7
    DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-47831-3_7
    as

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