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Document Type

Article

Abstract

Obesity is a rising problem in America and is blamed for externalities such as increasing health care costs. Some have proposed taxes on “unhealthy” foods so as to internalize the externalities and to generate revenue to subsidize “healthy” foods. I examine several such proposals and conclude that taxes based on perceived externalities from the obese are not the best options. Other solutions such as increasing awareness and nutritional programs would be better.

Publication Date

Spring 2010

Journal Title

Major Themes in Economics

Volume

12

Issue

1

First Page

47

Last Page

69

Copyright

©2010 by Major Themes in Economics

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Included in

Economics Commons

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