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Food and beverage prices can significantly affect food choices, as can individual economic stability and broader economic fluctuations. All families and caregivers should have the economic stability they need to invest in their children and help them thrive. Research in this area explores the possible health and economic impacts of using pricing and other economic strategies to promote consumption of healthy foods and beverages and discourage consumption of unhealthy products. It also explores macroeconomic impacts on food choice and the intersection between policies to support family economic wellbeing and food access and diet quality.
Research & Publications See all
November 2024
Experiences with COVID-19 economic relief measures among low-wage worker families: a qualitative study
This study aimed to understand experiences with COVID-19 economic relief measures among low-wage worker households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews from low-wage workers in households with children in two U.S. cities in 2022 (n = 40). The sample was recruited from a larger study which included survey measures More
August 2024
Philadelphia Beverage Tax’s Impact on Beverage Ad Expenditures and Number of Ads Purchased
On January 1, 2017, Philadelphia implemented a beverage excise tax. The study’s objective was to determine whether beverage advertising expenditures and the number of beverage ads purchased changed in Philadelphia compared to Baltimore because of this tax. Monthly beverage ad expenditures and the number of beverage ads purchased by brand from January 2016 through December More
April 2024
Promoting Healthier Purchases: Ultraprocessed Food Taxes and Minimally Processed Foods Subsidies for the Low Income
Fiscal policies can shift relative food prices to encourage the purchase and consumption of minimally processed foods while discouraging the purchase and consumption of unhealthy ultraprocessed foods, high in calories and nutrients of concern (sodium, sugar, and saturated fats), especially for low-income households. The 2017–2018 packaged food purchase data among U.S. households were used to More
November 2023
Evaluating the impact of state-level economic-support policies on the nutritional health of kids and families
To address ongoing concerns of child poverty across the United States, states have introduced and modified family economic security policies related to the state minimum wage (MW) and state earned income tax credit (EITC). While poor nutritional health disproportionately impacts children who experience poverty, few studies have examined the potentially beneficial effects of state-level MW More