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Improving Healthy Eating in Children: Experimental Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Charness, Gary

    (University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Cobo-Reyes, Ramón

    (University of Essex)

  • Eyster, Erik

    (University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Katz, Gabriel

    (University of Exeter)

  • Sánchez, Ángela

    (NYU and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis)

  • Sutter, Matthias

    (Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods)

Abstract

We present a field experiment to study the effects of non-monetary incentives on healthy food choices of 282 children in elementary schools. Previous interventions have typically paid participants for healthy eating, but this often may not be feasible. We introduce a system where food items are graded based on their nutritional value, involving parents or classmates as change agents by providing them with information regarding the food choices of their children or friends. We find parents' involvement in the decision process to be particularly beneficial in boosting healthy food choices, with very strong results that persist months after the intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Charness, Gary & Cobo-Reyes, Ramón & Eyster, Erik & Katz, Gabriel & Sánchez, Ángela & Sutter, Matthias, 2020. "Improving Healthy Eating in Children: Experimental Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 13999, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13999
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    healthy eating; children; parents; non-monetary incentives; field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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