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A Theory of LTR Junk-food Consumption

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Abstract

LTR junk-food consumption balances the marginal satisfaction with the marginal deterioration of health. An LTR person discounts the instantaneous marginal satisfaction from junk-food consumption by its implications for his survival probability. His change rate of health evaluation is increased (decreased) by junk-food consumption when health is better (worse) than a critical level. The moderating direct effects of age and relative price on junk-food consumption may be amplified, or dimmed, by the change in his health. The stationary health of a person ignoring his age declines with his time-preference rate and rises with the marginal effect of junk food on his intrinsic health-improvement rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Levy, Amnon, 2003. "A Theory of LTR Junk-food Consumption," Economics Working Papers wp03-06, School of Economics, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
    • Handle: RePEc:uow:depec1:wp03-06
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    File URL: http://www.uow.edu.au/content/groups/public/@web/@commerce/@econ/documents/doc/uow012146.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Drichoutis & Rodolfo Nayga & Panagiotis Lazaridis, 2012. "Food away from home expenditures and obesity among older Europeans: are there gender differences?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 1051-1078, June.
    2. Drichoutis, Andreas C. & Lazaridis, Panagiotis & Nayga, Rodolfo M., Jr., 2009. "Body Weight Outcomes and Food Expenditures Among Older Europeans: A simultaneous equation approach," 113th Seminar, September 3-6, 2009, Chania, Crete, Greece 58010, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Yaniv, Gideon & Rosin, Odelia & Tobol, Yossef, 2009. "Junk-food, home cooking, physical activity and obesity: The effect of the fat tax and the thin subsidy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(5-6), pages 823-830, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    junk food; health food; relative price; relative taste; risk; natural recovery; full-capacity income; expected lifetime utility; rational consumption; health; health value;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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