Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP18213
Authors: Sara Abrahamsson; Aline Butikofer; Krzysztof Karbownik
Abstract: Using spatial and temporal variation in openings of fast food restaurants in Norway between 1980 and 2007, we study the effects of changes in the supply of high caloric nutrition on the health and cognitive ability of young adult males. Our results indicate that exposure to these establishments during childhood and adolescence increases BMI and has negative effects on cognition. Heterogeneity analysis does not reveal meaningful differences in the effects across groups, including for those with adverse prenatal health or high paternal BMI, an exception being that cognition is only affected by exposure at ages 0--12 and this effect is mediated by paternal education.
Keywords: fast food restaurants; food supply; BMI; obesity; cognitive ability
JEL Codes: I12; I20; J13; L66
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fast food restaurant proximity (R20) | BMI (I12) |
| Fast food restaurant proximity (R20) | Likelihood of being overweight (I14) |
| Fast food restaurant proximity (R20) | Cognitive ability (G53) |
| Fast food restaurant proximity (R20) | Probability of pursuing an academic track in high school (I23) |
| Paternal education (I24) | Cognitive ability (G53) |