Using Experimental Economics to Measure the Role of Parental Generosity and Food Control in Childhood Obesity

Abstract

This research uses experimental economics to measure the effect of parental generosity and child response on childhood overweight and obesity. The 'Carrot-Stick' experiment, an adaptation of the standard dictator game in which the respondent (the child) can punish or reward the dictator (the parent) based on the dictator's generosity, served as basis of our examination. Two treatments are conducted, in which the child spends his or her earnings on non-food and food items. Our empirical analysis shows significant relationships between parental weight and their level of generosity regarding food items. We conclude that child response behavior, obesigenic factors in the household, and the child's tendency toward being overweight and obese are significantly related.Overweight, Obesity, Childhood, Family, Bargaining, Carrot-Stick, Dictator, Experimental Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy,