Obesity, Economic Growth: The COVID-19 Pandemic, and Poverty

Over the past several decades, obesity has grown into a major global epidemic. This dramatic rise in rates is more pronounced in developing countries, as compared to more industrialized societies. In Peru, obesity rates are escalating. In this paper, Granger Causality Test in Panel Data, Dynamic Panel Data Analysis, and Cointegration Analysis in Panel Data from 2008 – 2020 in 24 regions with a sample size of 312 data points – is used. We find that there is a cointegration among obesity, poverty, and economic growth, which ensures a long-run relationship between the variables. In addition, our analysis found that regarding the initiative of government regulation, which introduces technical parameters of processed foods and nonalcoholic beverages and which was approved in terms of sugar, sodium and saturated fat content, is not effective. Finally, the results obtained show that the quarantine period in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic also has contributed to an increase in obesity rates in the regions of Peru during the 2008 – 2020 period

Obesity and Socioeconomic Status Among Peruvian Women: Evidence of Panel Data Analysis

The rise in global obesity and overweight population rates has reached a pandemic level. This dramatic rise in rates is more pronounced in developing countries, as compared to more industrialized societies. In Peru, obesity rates are escalating, the information available shows that during the years 2008 and 2017 the rate of obesity among Peruvian women increased from 14.60 to 22.91 percent, despite the progress made in reducing poverty and income inequality during the reference period. In this paper, Panel-data analysis from 2008-2017, 24 regions, and a sample size of 240 data points is used. We find that there is a cointegration among obesity, poverty, and income inequality, which ensures a long-run relationship among the variables

Financial Inclusion and Poverty Reduction: An Analysis of Panel Data 2010-2019

The purpose of this research paper is to determine the contribution of financial inclusion on the reduction of poverty. Peru was used as a case study to analyze the policy process in reduction of poverty through financial inclusion using data for the period of 2010-2019. The general research hypothesis is that financial inclusion can contribute to the reduction of poverty. Panel data model was specified whose estimation was made through the fixed effects estimator.Within the specified econometric model, the dependent variable was the poverty rate, while the explanatory variable of interest, in this case, financial inclusion, was measured through a multidimensional index of financial inclusion. Additionally, a set of control variables was incorporated: economic growth, income inequality, labor informality rate, and average number of years of education achieved.The results of the research demonstrate evidence in favor of the general research hypothesis, confirming that financial inclusion presents a statistically significant contribution of 1% on the reduction of poverty in Peru during the period 2010-2019. Likewise, regarding the control variables, it is identified that the increase in the levels of economic growth and average years of education are also relevant for the reduction of poverty. Additionally, it is corroborated that the reduction of the levels of income inequality and labor informality lead to an improvement in reduction of the poverty rates

Obesity, Poverty and Income Inequality in USA: Evidence from Panel Cointegration and Mixed Model Methodology

Over the past several decades, obesity has grown into a major global epidemic. Obesity in the United States is widely acknowledged to be a severe and growing problem. In this paper, economic costs of obesity are discussed with an emphasis on healthcare costs, as obesity is perhaps among the largest contributing factor to high costs of health care in America. Stemming the obesity epidemic cannot be separated from stemming the tide of poverty and income inequality gap. In this study, we used panel cointegration test using data from 1998-2012 and our results suggests that there is a long-run relationship among obesity, inequality and poverty

Restriction of Technical Capabilities, Public Investment and Human Development: A Panel Results Analysis for Local Governments of the Department of Ayacucho in Peru, 2010-2012

The present research work analyzes the contribution of the restriction of technical capacities to the level of human development registered in the local governments of Ayacucho during the period 2010-2012. This paper is testing to evaluate if during 2010-2012 period, the reduction of human development levels of the local governments of the department of Ayacucho is due to the restriction of technical capacities that limit the execution of public investment at the local level. In particular, the results obtained support the research hypothesis that during the reference period, the expenditure of the local governments of the department of Ayacucho is mainly limited by two factors: first, the restriction of technical capacities in municipal policy and management; and second, the strategic planning. These two factors in turn, reduce the execution of public investment by 9.32% and 6.12%, respectively. Likewise, this capacity restriction contributes to a reduction in the execution of public investment by 8.35%. Additionally, it is found that, although the impact of public investment on human development at the local level is positive, in terms of magnitude, it is relatively minor, as shown in the empirical work carried out by Correa & Morocho (2015). Finally, it is found that during the period 2010-2012, the technical capacity constraints in municipal policy and management, plus lack of appropriate strategic planning, reduced the Human Development Index (HDI) of the local governments of Ayacucho by 0.10%, 0.06% and 0.08%, respectively