The Effectiveness of Sin Food Taxes: Evidence from Mexico

Arturo Aguilar Esteva (), Emilio Gutierrez and Enrique Seira ()

No 16421, Documentos de Trabajo from The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA)

Abstract: We measure the effects of two federal taxes in Mexico aimed at reducing obesity by taxing sugary drinks (SDs) and high caloric foods (HCFs). We use a weekly scanner panel dataset with more than 58,721 product barcodes. We find 6 percent lower SD consumption but no decrease in HCFs consumption. We find substantial substitution towards non-taxed goods, smaller unit sizes, and in the case of HCFs to higher calorie per gram foods. Overall, sugar consumption decreased 2 percent, saturated fat and cholesterol increased 2 and 6 percent, but total calories remained unchanged. Available evidence shows no effect on BMI.

Keywords: Obesity; Sin Taxes; High Caloric Foods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H20 H31 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 85
Date: 2018-07-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-pbe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Journal Article: The effectiveness of sin food taxes: Evidence from Mexico (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:col:000518:016421

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