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The Welfare Effects of Health-based Food Tax Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Kaisa Kotakorpi

    (School of Management, University of Tampere)

  • Tommi Härkänen

    (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

  • Pirjo Pietinen

    (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

  • Heli Reinivuo

    (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

  • Ilpo Suoniemi

    (Labour Institute for Economic Research)

  • Jukka Pirttilä

    (School of Management, University of Tampere)

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of health-oriented food tax reforms on the distribution of tax payments, food demand and health outcomes. Unlike earlier work, we also take into account the uncertainty related to both demand estimation and health estimates and report the confidence intervals for the overall health effects instead of only point estimates. A sugar tax of 1 € / kg reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes on average by 13% and it also leads to a reduction in coronary heart disease. The health effects appear to be most pronounced for low-income individuals, and the reforms may therefore reduce health inequality. This effect undermines the traditional regressivity argument against the heavy taxation of unhealthy food.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaisa Kotakorpi & Tommi Härkänen & Pirjo Pietinen & Heli Reinivuo & Ilpo Suoniemi & Jukka Pirttilä, 2011. "The Welfare Effects of Health-based Food Tax Policy," Working Papers 1184, Tampere University, Faculty of Management and Business, Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tam:wpaper:1184
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    File URL: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:978-951-44-8649-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Yifan Xie & Yingkai Fang & Dengjun Zhang, 2022. "How Environmental Performance Affects Financial Performance in the Food Industry: A Global Outlook," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Irz, Xavier & Mazzocchi, Mario & Réquillart, Vincent & Soler, Louis-Georges, 2015. "Research in Food Economics: past trends and new challenges," Revue d'Etudes en Agriculture et Environnement, Editions NecPlus, vol. 96(01), pages 187-237, March.
    3. Li, Wenying & Dorfman, Jeffrey H., "undated". "Habit Formation with Smooth Transitions: Estimating Demand for U.S. Carbonated-Sweetened Beverages and Beer," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273852, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Shojaeddini, Ensieh & Schreiber, Andrew & Wolverton, Ann & Marten, Alex, 2024. "Consumer demand and the economy-wide costs of regulation: Modeling households with empirically estimated flexible functional forms," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Kishore, Avinash & Chakrabarti, Suman, 2015. "Is more inclusive more effective? The ‘New Style’ public distribution system in India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 117-130.
    6. Roche, Maxime, 2025. "Can differentiated value-added tax rates promote healthier diets? The case of Costa Rica," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    7. Juan Carlos Caro & Pourya Valizadeh & Alejandrina Correa & Andres Silva & Shu Wen Ng, 2020. "Combined fiscal policies to promote healthier diets: Effects on purchases and consumer welfare," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, January.
    8. Shameena Gill & Alia Maisara Adenan & Adli Ali & Noor Akmal Shareela Ismail, 2022. "Living through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact and Lessons on Dietary Behavior and Physical Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-23, January.
    9. Alberto Pench, 0. "Time Allocation and Snacks and Sugar Sweetened Beverages Taxation," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    10. Nina van der Vliet & Anita W.M. Suijkerbuijk & Adriana T. de Blaeij & G. Ardine de Wit & Paul F. van Gils & Brigit A.M. Staatsen & Rob Maas & Johan J. Polder, 2020. "Ranking Preventive Interventions from Different Policy Domains: What Are the Most Cost-Effective Ways to Improve Public Health?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    11. Alberto Pench, 2020. "Time Allocation and Snacks and Sugar Sweetened Beverages Taxation," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 6(3), pages 469-492, November.
    12. Li, Wenying & Dorfman, Jeffrey H., 2019. "The implications of heterogeneous habit in consumer beverage purchases on soda and sin taxes," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 111-120.
    13. Caro, Juan Carlos & Ng, Shu Wen & Taillie, Lindsey Smith & Popkin, Barry M., 2017. "Designing a tax to discourage unhealthy food and beverage purchases: The case of Chile," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 86-100.
    14. Lionel Cosnard, 2019. "Taxing Sugar and Sugary Products to Reduce Obesity: A CGE Assessment of Several Tax Policies," Post-Print hal-03148821, HAL.
    15. Di Cosmo, Valeria & Tiezzi, Silvia, 2023. "Let them Eat Cake? The Net Consumer Welfare Impact of Sin Taxes," MPRA Paper 116214, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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