Framing Obesity in Economic Theory and Policy

Stefan Mann ()

Review of Social Economy, 2008, vol. 66, issue 2, 163-179

Abstract: This paper explores several explanatory approaches for the rise and the prevalence of obesity in society. Both rationalist approaches and explanations involving information problems or weakness of will are considered. It is shown that many world religions take a united stance against obesity. While the recent rise in obesity can be explained rationally by a changed environment, information deficiencies and akrasia contribute to explaining its frequency in general. If the state intervenes, a “fat tax” carries much higher allocative losses than taxing overweight directly.

Keywords: welfare economics; second-order preferences; health economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Working Paper: Framing Obesity in Economic Theory and Policy (2006)
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DOI: 10.1080/00346760701668461

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