Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico
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. explains about ten 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.
-
-
Copy CitationOsea Giuntella, Matthias Rieger, and Lorenzo Rotunno, "Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico," NBER Working Paper 24942 (2018), https://doi.org/10.3386/w24942.Download Citation
-
Published Versions
Osea Giuntella & Matthias Rieger & Lorenzo Rotunno, 2019. "Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico," Journal of International Economics, . citation courtesy of 
More from the NBER
In addition to working papers, the NBER disseminates affiliates’ latest findings through a range of free periodicals — the NBER Reporter, the NBER Digest, the Bulletin on Health, and the Bulletin on Entrepreneurship — as well as online conference reports, video lectures, and interviews.
