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Using behavioral economics to design more effective food policies to address obesity

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liu, PJ; Wisdom, J; Roberto, CA; Liu, LJ; Ubel, PA
Published in: Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
March 1, 2014

Many policy interventions that address rising obesity levels in the United States have been designed to provide consumers with more nutrition information, with the goal of encouraging consumers to decrease their caloric intake. We discuss existing information-provision measures and suggest that they are likely to have little-to-modest impact on encouraging lower caloric intake, because making use of such information requires understanding and/or motivation, which many consumers lack, as well as self-control, which is a limited resource. We highlight several phenomena from the behavioral economics literature (present-biased preferences, visceral factors, and status quo bias) and explain how awareness of these behavioral phenomena can inform both more effective information-provision policies and additional policies for regulating restaurants and public school cafeterias that move beyond information to nudge people towards healthier food choices. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. All rights reserved.

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Published In

Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

DOI

EISSN

2040-5804

ISSN

2040-5790

Publication Date

March 1, 2014

Volume

36

Issue

1

Start / End Page

6 / 24

Related Subject Headings

  • Agricultural Economics & Policy
  • 3801 Applied economics
  • 1402 Applied Economics
 

Citation

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Liu, P. J., Wisdom, J., Roberto, C. A., Liu, L. J., & Ubel, P. A. (2014). Using behavioral economics to design more effective food policies to address obesity. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 36(1), 6–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppt027
Liu, P. J., J. Wisdom, C. A. Roberto, L. J. Liu, and P. A. Ubel. “Using behavioral economics to design more effective food policies to address obesity.” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 36, no. 1 (March 1, 2014): 6–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppt027.
Liu PJ, Wisdom J, Roberto CA, Liu LJ, Ubel PA. Using behavioral economics to design more effective food policies to address obesity. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 2014 Mar 1;36(1):6–24.
Liu, P. J., et al. “Using behavioral economics to design more effective food policies to address obesity.” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, vol. 36, no. 1, Mar. 2014, pp. 6–24. Scopus, doi:10.1093/aepp/ppt027.
Liu PJ, Wisdom J, Roberto CA, Liu LJ, Ubel PA. Using behavioral economics to design more effective food policies to address obesity. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 2014 Mar 1;36(1):6–24.
Journal cover image

Published In

Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

DOI

EISSN

2040-5804

ISSN

2040-5790

Publication Date

March 1, 2014

Volume

36

Issue

1

Start / End Page

6 / 24

Related Subject Headings

  • Agricultural Economics & Policy
  • 3801 Applied economics
  • 1402 Applied Economics