Weight Gains from Trade in Foods: Evidence from Mexico

Osea Giuntella, Matthias Rieger and Lorenzo Rotunno

No 12677, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the effects of trade in foods on obesity in Mexico. To do so, we match data on Mexican food imports from the U.S. with anthropometric and food expenditure data. Our findings suggest that exposure to food imports from the U.S. can explain up to twenty percent of the rise in obesity prevalence among Mexican women between 1988 and 2012. Pro-obesity effects are driven by areas more exposed to unhealthy food imports. We also find evidence in favour of a price mechanism. By linking trade flows to obesity, the paper sheds light on an important channel through which globalisation may affect health.

Keywords: nutrition transition; obesity; trade; Mexico (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F60 F61 I10 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 68 pages
Date: 2019-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-dev, nep-hea and nep-int
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published - published in: Journal of International Economics, 2020, 122, 103277

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Related works:
Journal Article: Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico (2020)
Working Paper: Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico (2020)
Working Paper: Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico (2018)
Working Paper: Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico (2017)
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