Part A: Introduction
Chapter 1. Why Study the Economics of Nutrition?
- Abstract
- Organization of the Book Chapters
Chapter 2. Global Nutritional Challenges and Targets: A Development and Policy Perspective
- Abstract
- Global Nutrition Challenges
- Calorie-Deficient Diet
- Micronutrient Deficiencies
- Stunting
- Wasting
- Overweight and Obesity
- Exclusive Breast Feeding
- Lower Birth Weight
- Malnutrition From a Development and Policy Perspective
- How can the Global Community Organize to Achieve the Global Nutrition Goals?
- Global Nutrition Goals for 2025
- What Have We Learned and How Do We Move Forward?
- Increasing Investments in Nutrition
- The Role of Continued Documentation of Evidence
- Increasing the Commitment to Nutrition
- Monitoring and Tracking Nutrition Progress
- Investing in Open Data Systems
- Recent Global Initiatives
- Policy Process and Best Practices
- Local Ownership and Leadership
- The Role of Civil Society
- Multisectoral Approach
- Emerging Challenges
- Research Gaps
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 3. A Conceptual Framework for Investing in Nutrition: Issues, Challenges, and Analytical Approaches
- Abstract
- Problems of Poverty, Hunger, and Malnutrition
- Causes of Malnutrition: A Conceptual Framework
- Rationale for Investing in Nutrition
- Nutrition and Other Development Objectives
- Nutrition Challenges and Their Economic Policy Analysis
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Part B: Economic Analysis of Nutrition
Chapter 4. Microeconomic Nutrition Policy
- Abstract
- Introduction
- The Household as the Decision-Making Unit
- Household Equilibrium and Demand for Nutrients
- Basic Concepts of Demand for Food
- Derivation of Engel Curves From Income Consumption Lines
- Deriving the Household Demand Curve for a Fiber-Rich Diet
- Demand for Nonfood Factors for Optimal Nutrition
- Production of Nutrition With Food and Nonfood Inputs
- Dynamics of Nutrition Choices
- Cultural Factors Affecting Food Consumption and Nutrition
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 5. Macroeconomic Aspects of Nutrition Policy
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Conceptual Framework
- Nutritional Impact of Macroeconomic Shocks and Policies
- Elements of Macroeconomic Policy and Their Implications
- How Do Macroeconomic Adjustment Policies Affect Nutritional Outcomes?
- Analytical Methods for Studying the Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on Nutrition
- Macro–Meso–Micro Policy Linkages in the Context of Nutrition
- Conclusion
- Exercises
Part C: Economics of Nutrient Demand
Chapter 6. Consumer Theory and Estimation of Demand for Food
- Abstract
- Derivation of Consumer Demand Functions
- Testing for Separability
- Aggregating Consumer Demand for Policy Analysis
- Duality, Indirect Utility, and Cost Minimization
- Introduction to Empirical Demand Systems
- Food Demand Studies in Developing and Developed Countries
- Empirical Implementation in STATA
- Calculating Elasticities
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 7. Demand for Nutrients and Policy Implications
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Studies on Nutrient Demand
- Recent Studies From Asia
- The United States
- Estimation of Nutrition Elasticities
- Can Subsidies Improve Nutrition?
- Implementation in STATA
- Example 1: The Effect of a Subsidy
- Example 2: Based on Jensen-Miller (2011)
- Example 3: Based on Kaushal and Muchomba (2015)
- Example 4: Based on Chang et al. (2015)
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Part D: Determinants of Nutritional Status and Causal Analysis
Chapter 8. Socio Economic Determinants of Nutrition: Application of Quantile Regression
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Safe Water, Sanitation, Mothers’ Education, Children’s Diets, and Nutrition
- Are Nutritional Outcomes Age-Specific?
- Double Burden and Socio Economic Determinants in Indonesian Households
- Policy Issues for Reducing Under-Nutrition: An Example
- Generating Analytical Results for Policy Discussions
- Quantile Estimation Using STATA
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 9. Intra-Household Allocation and Gender Bias in Nutrition: Application of Heckman Two-Step Procedure
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Economics of Intra-Household Behavior
- Models of Intra-Household Decision-Making
- Are Girls Eating More? A Review of Selected Studies
- Policy Applications of Studies on Intra-Household Resource Allocation
- Generating Analytical Results
- Implementation in STATA
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 10. Economics of Child Care, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Health: The Application of the Blinder–Oaxaca Decomposition Method
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Conceptual Approach
- What Do We Know: Policy Lessons?
- Child Malnutrition and Rights to Water and Sanitation
- The Asian Enigma
- Child Care, Fertility, and Malnutrition
- Health Care and Nutrition
- Ecohealth Approaches: Maharashtra, India, Cameroon, and Lebanon
- Panagaria–Gillespie Debates and Policy Considerations
- Analytical Methods
- Implementation in STATA
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Part E: Program Evaluation and Analysis of Nutrition Policies
Chapter 11. Methods of Program Evaluation: An Analytical Review and Implementation Strategies
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Analytical Methods
- Implementation in STATA: Test Scores and Free Lunch
- Implementation in STATA: IV Estimation, Test Scores, and Free Lunch
- Example: Test Scores and Free Lunch
- Implementation in STATA
- Implementation in STATA
- Example
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 12. Nutritional Implications of Social Protection: Application of Panel Data Method
- Abstract
- Placing Social Protection Programs in a Larger Development Context
- A Conceptual Framework for Evaluating Social Protection Programs for Nutritional Outcomes
- Designing and Implementing Social Protection: What Is the Best Approach?
- What Does the Current Literature Show?
- Safety Net in Ethiopia: Policy Lessons
- Brazil’s Bolsa Familia: Cash Transfers Are Not Enough
- Nutria-Cookies, Child Labor, and Safety Net Programs in India
- Bangladesh Social Protection With a Behavioral Change Component
- Safety Nets and Nutrition in India
- The Great Recession and the Social Safety Net in the United States
- Analytical Methods
- Empirical Example in STATA
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 13. Economics of School Nutrition: An Application of Regression Discontinuity
- Abstract
- Introduction
- What Do We Know From Existing Literature?
- Lessons From the Evaluations of the International Agencies
- How Many Kids Are Fed in Schools?
- The Bottom Line
- The Importance of School Feeding Programs
- The Challenges With School Feeding Programs
- School Feeding Programs in the United States
- Do School Breakfast Programs Work?
- School Feeding Programs Global Evolution
- Analytical Results: Application of Regression Discontinuity
- Implementation in STATA
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Part F: Economics of Triple Burden: Under-Nutrition, Over-Nutrition, Micronutrient Deficiencies
Chapter 14. Economic Analysis of Obesity and Impact on Quality of Life: Application of NonParametric Methods
- Abstract
- Introduction
- The Economic Effects of Obesity on Human Capital
- Health Costs of Obesity
- Causes of Obesity in America
- How Safe Are the Safety Nets in the United States?
- Income Effects and Childhood Obesity
- Obesity in Suburbia
- Urban Sprawl, Remoteness, and the Built Environment
- Can Higher Gas Prices Reduce Obesity?
- Urban Sprawl and the Walmart Effect
- The Built Environment: Obesity, Parks, and Recreation
- The Built Environment: Junk Foods, Vending Machines, Video Games, and Grades
- Food Deserts
- Fast-Food and Obesity
- Policy Challenges: Will Fat-Taxes or Soda-Taxes Work?
- Peer Effects, Social Networks, Dating, and Obesity
- Obesity in Other Developed Countries
- Other Obese Groups
- Policy: Should We Worry About Obesity?
- Does Public Opinion Sway Policy?
- Policy Angle From Behavioral Economics
- The Moral Hazard Problem and Policy Headaches
- Can Nutrition Labeling, Packaging, Advertising, Law, and Education Help?
- Nonparametric Regression in STATA: Testing Obesity and Food Insecurity
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Part G: Special Topics in Nutrition Policy
Chapter 15. Agriculture, Nutrition, Health: How to Bring Multiple Sectors to Work on Nutritional Goals
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Conceptual Framework
- Dietary Diversity
- Bio-Fortification
- Nutrition Value Chains
- Connecting the Sectors Through Multi-Sector Programming
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Chapter 16. Designing a Decentralized Food System to Meet Nutrition Needs: An Optimization Approach
- Abstract
- A Practical Tool for Designing Decentralized Food Nutrition Interventions
- Application of the Model to the Food System in Malawi
- Conclusions
- Exercises
Part H: Conclusion
Chapter 17. Future Directions for Nutrition Policy Making and Implementation