Socio-economic characteristics and the effect of taxation as a health policy instrument
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Socio-economic characteristics and the effect of taxation as a health policy instrument. / Smed, Sinne; Jensen, Jørgen Dejgård; Denver, Sigrid.
I: Food Policy, Bind 32, Nr. 5-6, 2007, s. 624-639.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Socio-economic characteristics and the effect of taxation as a health policy instrument
AU - Smed, Sinne
AU - Jensen, Jørgen Dejgård
AU - Denver, Sigrid
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - This paper analyses the quantitative effects of using economic instruments in health policy on thebasis of price elasticities calculated from estimated demand systems. The nutritional effects of varioustaxation schemes are compared for households in different age groups and social classes. Focusingon the consumption of saturated fats, fibre and sugar; it is generally found that the impact of priceinstruments is stronger for lower social classes than in other groups of the population. With regardto age groups, it is mostly the youngest that decrease their demand for saturated fat in response toprice changes, while it is mostly the middle-aged who exhibit price responsiveness in their demandfor sugar. These groups are however not considered as key target groups for dietary regulation; thustax instruments may be effective in improving diets on average, but the design of the instruments andthe targeting of vulnerable groups with special needs should be done with care. It should be notedthat a tax on a single nutrient or food may have undesired effects on the demand for other food components,though this may be avoided by introducing taxes/subsidies on several food productssimultaneously.
AB - This paper analyses the quantitative effects of using economic instruments in health policy on thebasis of price elasticities calculated from estimated demand systems. The nutritional effects of varioustaxation schemes are compared for households in different age groups and social classes. Focusingon the consumption of saturated fats, fibre and sugar; it is generally found that the impact of priceinstruments is stronger for lower social classes than in other groups of the population. With regardto age groups, it is mostly the youngest that decrease their demand for saturated fat in response toprice changes, while it is mostly the middle-aged who exhibit price responsiveness in their demandfor sugar. These groups are however not considered as key target groups for dietary regulation; thustax instruments may be effective in improving diets on average, but the design of the instruments andthe targeting of vulnerable groups with special needs should be done with care. It should be notedthat a tax on a single nutrient or food may have undesired effects on the demand for other food components,though this may be avoided by introducing taxes/subsidies on several food productssimultaneously.
KW - Former LIFE faculty
KW - Nutrition
KW - Food taxes
KW - AIDS model
KW - Socio-demographic
U2 - 10.1016/j.foodpol.2007.03.002
DO - 10.1016/j.foodpol.2007.03.002
M3 - Journal article
VL - 32
SP - 624
EP - 639
JO - Food Policy
JF - Food Policy
SN - 0306-9192
IS - 5-6
ER -
ID: 8082343