Gifts and goals: Behavioral nudges to improve child food choice at school

Anya Samek

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2019, vol. 164, issue C, 1-12

Abstract: The rising childhood obesity rate calls for interventions aimed at improving food choice. We conducted a field experiment with over 1,400 children to measure the impact of interventions based on two behavioral theories: reciprocity and theories of self-control. We found that unconditional gifts (triggering reciprocity) increased choice of the healthier milk by 15 percentage points. Giving the option to set a goal (an internal commitment device) increased choice of the healthier milk by 10 percentage points. Our results have implications for policy and practice, as low-cost school-based interventions may have an impact on what kids choose to eat and (by extension) on obesity.

Keywords: Field experiment; Children; Food choice; Reciprocity; Goal-setting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Working Paper: Gifts and Goals: Behavioral Nudges to Improve Child Food Choice at School (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:164:y:2019:i:c:p:1-12

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2019.05.008

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