A Silver Lining? The Connection Between Gasoline Prices and Obesity.
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Charles J. Courtmanche, Assistant Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: I find evidence of a negative association between gasoline prices and body weight using a fixed effects model with several robustness checks. I also show that increases in gas prices are associated with additional walking and a reduction in the frequency with which people eat at restaurants, explaining their effect on weight. My estimates imply that 8% of the rise in obesity between 1979 and 2004 can be attributed to the concurrent drop in real gas prices, and that a permanent $1 increase in gasoline prices would reduce overweight and obesity in the United States by 7% and 10%.
A Silver Lining? The Connection Between Gasoline Prices and Obesity.
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Created on 10/15/2010
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Economic Inquiry.
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Body mass index, Obesity, Gasoline prices, Physical activity, United States