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Determinants of Food Consumption Choices: Experimental Evidence from St. Kitts

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  • Kaywana Raeburn
  • Jim Engle-Warnick
  • Sonia Laszlo

Abstract

In this paper, we use economics experiment laboratory intruments to measure time, risk and ambiguity preferences, which we correlate with food choice factors (items that influence food choice) and actual food consumption measures. We find that present bias, and to a lesser extent risk preferences, are significantly correlated with the food choice factors of health, natural content, and weight control. We find these correlations to be less consistent with actual reported food chocies. This finding indicates a discrepancy between what individuals ideally would like to eat and what they actually consume. This finding suggests scope for intervention to bring the two into alignment.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaywana Raeburn & Jim Engle-Warnick & Sonia Laszlo, 2016. "Determinants of Food Consumption Choices: Experimental Evidence from St. Kitts," CIRANO Working Papers 2016s-43, CIRANO.
    • Handle: RePEc:cir:cirwor:2016s-43
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