The Effect of Food Deserts on the Body Mass Index of Elementary School Children

Families in low-income neighborhoods sometimes lack access to supermarkets that provide a broad range of healthy foods. We investigate whether these so called "food deserts" play a role in childhood obesity using a statewide panel data set of Arkansas elementary schoolchildren. We use fixed-effects panel data regression models to estimate the average food desert effect. We next compare children who left (entered) food deserts to children who were always (never) in food deserts and homogenize samples for those whose food desert status changed as a result of a change in residence and those whose status changed only as a consequence of the entry or exit of a supermarket. We present evidence that exposure to food deserts is associated with higher z-scores for body mass index. On average, this is in the neighborhood of 0.04 standard deviations. The strongest evidence and largest association is among urban students and especially those that transition into food deserts from non-deserts. Our food desert estimates are similar in magnitude to findings reported in earlier work on diet and lifestyle interventions targeting similarly aged schoolchildren. That said, we are unable to conclude that the estimated food desert effect is causal because many of the transitions into or out of food deserts result from a change in residence, an event that is endogenous to the child's household. However, there is evidence that food deserts are a risk indicator and that food desert areas may be obesogenic in ways that other low-income neighborhoods are not

An acreage response model for Arkansas rice farms

In recent years, market forces have signaled a strong demand for rice as well as other Arkansas crops. However, high fuel, fertilizer, and chemical costs have negatively impacted farm income, and these input costs are widely known to impact planting decisions of farmers. The goal of this study is to develop and estimate an acreage response model for rice. The model is used to compute acreage response elasticities and provides insight into roles that input costs and crop prices play in acreage decisions made by producers. Economic theory predicts that prices for important inputs such as fuels and fertilizers as well as the relative prices of rice and soybeans will impact acreage decisions. Soybean prices are expected to be important because most of the machinery needed to produce rice and soybeans is the same and these crops are already used commonly in rotation. Results of the study show that crop price variables do indeed play a significant role in producer planning. Short- and long-run own-price acreage response elasticities are estimated to be 0.69 and 1.19, respectively. Soybean prices have the expected negative impact on rice acreage with a cross-price elasticity of -0.33 in the short run and -0.57 in the long run. On the other hand, the expected economic impacts of input prices on rice acreage were not supported by the results. Estimated relationships were negative, as would be predicted by economic theory, but were not statistically significant

An Optimization Model for Winery Capacity Use

An optimization model to sequence wine flow through the production process is developed. The model is formulated as a mixed integer program and accounts for winemaking specifications, market conditions, grape availability, and tank capacity. An empirical example is provided to demonstrate results and uses of the model.Agribusiness,

Improving our food and physical activity environments

Learn about food environments, the good and not so good food environments and how to improve the not so good food environments. Learn that physical activity environments are important for everyone

SALES RESPONSES TO RECALLS FOR LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES: EVIDENCE FROM BRANDED READY-TO-EAT MEATS

Empirical models are used to measure sales losses experienced by frankfurter brands following a recall for a foodborne pathogen. Recalled brands experience a 22 to 27 percent sales decline after a recall. Brand recovery occurs within 4 to 5 months after a recall. Non-recalled brands do not experience sales losses.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

PRODUCER WELFARE CHANGES FROM MEAT AND POULTRY RECALLS

The number and volume of meat and poultry recalls has increased substantially in recent years. This is likely due to regulatory emphasis on foodborne illness resulting in an increased frequency of testing for pathogens. We use an equilibrium-displacement model to examine the effects of recall costs on the beef, pork, and poultry industries. Results suggest that higher recall costs may have actually increased producer surplus to the broiler industry because of consumer substitution among products and that most losses resulting from recalls are accruing to the beef and pork industries.Agribusiness,

Consumer Attitudes toward Freshness Indicators on Perishable Food Products

Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

THE SKY IS FALLING: AN EXAMINATION OF BROILER CONTRACT DESIGN AND GROWER REVENUES

A math program is used to examine an integrators problem of assigning broiler growers into settlement pools. The integrator varies the size and frequency of flock placements by grower ability. This differentiates grower incentives by ability. Which growers receive the strongest incentives depends on amount of excess grow-out capacity.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Volatility Surface and Skewness in Live Cattle Futures Price Distributions with Application to North American BSE Announcements

options markets, live cattle, volatility, pricing density function, Financial Economics, Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,