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Fat Taxes and Thin Subsidies as Obesity Policy

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

Many obesity policy proponents have speculated about taxing foods with high fat or high sugar content or subsidizing healthier foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, and governments have tried some of these possibilities. While much remains unresolved, the available evidence does not favor subsidies on fresh fruit and vegetables or taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as obesity policy. Taxes on specific nutrients are generally found to be more effective in reducing calorie consumption and body weight as well as economically more efficient. However, any food tax will be regressive and could have other undesirable unintended consequences, and it is not clear that it would be politically feasible to set any such tax at a high enough rate to have a worthwhile effect on reducing obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian M. Alston & Abigail M. Okrent, 2017. "Fat Taxes and Thin Subsidies as Obesity Policy," Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, in: The Effects of Farm and Food Policy on Obesity in the United States, chapter 9, pages 237-283, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:psachp:978-1-137-47831-3_9
    DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-47831-3_9
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