Weight Gains from Trade in Foods: Evidence from Mexico

68 Pages Posted: 14 Oct 2019

See all articles by Osea Giuntella

Osea Giuntella

University of Oxford

Matthias Rieger

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

Lorenzo Rotunno

Aix-Marseille University - Aix-Marseille School of Economics

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the effects of trade in foods on obesity in Mexico. To do so, we match data on Mexican food imports from the U.S. with anthropometric and food expenditure data. Our findings suggest that exposure to food imports from the U.S. can explain up to twenty percent of the rise in obesity prevalence among Mexican women between 1988 and 2012. Pro-obesity effects are driven by areas more exposed to unhealthy food imports. We also find evidence in favour of a price mechanism. By linking trade flows to obesity, the paper sheds light on an important channel through which globalisation may affect health.

Keywords: trade, obesity, nutrition transition, Mexico

JEL Classification: F60, F61, I10, I12

Suggested Citation

Giuntella, Osea and Rieger, Matthias and Rotunno, Lorenzo, Weight Gains from Trade in Foods: Evidence from Mexico. IZA Discussion Paper No. 12677, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3468625 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3468625

Osea Giuntella (Contact Author)

University of Oxford ( email )

No Address Available

Matthias Rieger

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

PO Box 29776
Den Haag, 2518 AX
Netherlands

Lorenzo Rotunno

Aix-Marseille University - Aix-Marseille School of Economics ( email )

2 rue de la Charité
Marseille, 13236
France

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