Changing Eating Habits - A Field Experiment in Primary Schools

Michèle Belot, Jonathan James and Patrick Nolen

Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series from Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh

Abstract: We conduct a field experiment in 31 primary schools in England to test whether incentives to eat fruit and vegetables help children develop healthier habits. The intervention consists of rewarding children with stickers and little gifts for a period of four weeks for choosing a portion of fruit and vegetables at lunch. We compare the effects of two incentive schemes (competition and piece rate) on choices and consumption over the course of the intervention as well as once the incentives are removed and six months later. We find that the intervention had positive effects, but the effects vary substantially according to age and gender. However, we find little evidence of sustained long term effects, except for the children from poorer socio-economic backgrounds.

Keywords: incentives; health; habits; child nutrition; field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 H52 I18 I28 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 54
Date: 2013-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-dem, nep-edu, nep-exp, nep-hea and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Working Paper: Changing Eating Habits - A Field Experiment in Primary Schools (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:edn:esedps:219

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