A Silver Lining? The Connection Between Gasoline Prices and Obesity
I find evidence of a negative association between gasoline prices and body weight using a fixed effects model with several robustness checks. I also show that increases in gas prices are associated with additional walking and a reduction in the frequency with which people eat at restaurants, explaining their effect on weight. My estimates imply that 8% of the rise in obesity between 1979 and 2004 can be attributed to the concurrent drop in real gas prices, and that a permanent $1 increase in gasoline prices would reduce overweight and obesity in the U.S. by 7% and 10%.
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| Length: | 36 pages |
| Date of creation: | 24 Aug 2008 |
| Date of revision: | 01 Jan 2009 |
| Handle: | RePEc:ris:uncgec:2009_001 |
| Contact details of provider: | Postal: UNC Greensboro, Department of Economics, PO Box 26170, Bryan Building 462, Greensboro, NC 27402 Phone: (336) 334-5463 Fax: (336) 334-4089 Web page: http://economics.uncg.edu More information through EDIRC
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