A Note on Income Heterogeneity, Dietary Choice and Medical Services: Implications for Health Outcomes

Pedro Gomis-Porqueras and Junsang Lee

Economics Bulletin, 2011, vol. 31, issue 1, 699-707

Abstract: We present a theoretical framework where agents take into account the fact that their dietary choice affects their health status and hence their life expectancy. The literature that explains the relationship between income heterogeneity, health status and life expectancy has focused on the medical service channel whereby the wealthier spend more on medical services. In this note we propose an alternative mechanism -- the dietary choice channel. This channel takes into account how the quality of food directly impacts an individual's health and life expectancy. service channel whereby the wealthier spend more on medical services. In this note we propose an alternative mechanism – the dietary choice channel. This channel takes into account how the quality of food directly impacts an individual's health and life expectancy.

Keywords: Diet; Health Production Function; Income Heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 I1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-02-28
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