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. 2013 Apr 1;5(2):1-28.
doi: 10.1257/app.5.2.1.

Young Adult Obesity and Household Income: Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers

Randall Akee  1 , Emilia Simeonova  2 , William Copeland  3 , Adrian Angold  4 , E Jane Costello  5
Affiliations

Young Adult Obesity and Household Income: Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers

Randall Akee et al. Am Econ J Appl Econ. .

Abstract

We investigate the effect of household cash transfers during childhood on young adult body mass indexes (BMI). The effects of extra income differ depending on the household's initial socioeconomic status (SES). Children from the initially poorest households have a larger increase in BMI relative to children from initially wealthier households. Several alternative mechanisms are examined. Initial SES holds up as the most likely channel behind the heterogeneous effects of extra income on young adult BMI. (JEL D14, H23, H75, I12, J13, J15).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Conditional Means Plot of BMI as a Function of Income Before and After the Casino Transfers
Notes: Ordinary Least Squares regressions of children’s BMI on dummies indicating six different initial (pre-casino) household income categories before and after the casino transfers. The highest income category (over $60,000 in annual income) is the reference category.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Distribution of BMI by Age Cohorts and Tribal Status at Age 19
Notes: Density plots of the distribution of BMI across tribal member children and nonmembers at age 19 by age cohort. The youngest age cohort was initially age 9 at survey intake, the middle age cohort was age 11 at intake, and the oldest cohort was 13 at intake.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Distribution of Individual Changes in BMI by Cohort between Ages 13 and 19 among Tribal Members and Nonmembers
Notes: The plots show the distribution of changes in children’s BMI between ages 13 and 19 by cohort and by tribal affiliation. The youngest cohort was aged 13 when the transfers started, the middle cohort was 15, and the oldest cohort was 17. The solid line shows the distribution of BMI changes among tribal members. The dashed line shows the distribution of changes in BMI for nonmembers.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Density Plots of the Distribution of BMI at Ages 13 and 21 by Tribal Membership and Poverty Status; All Age Cohorts Included
Note: Poverty status is determined for household income in years prior to the income intervention and follows US poverty guidelines.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Akee Randall KQ, Copeland William E, Keeler Gordon, Angold Adrian, Costello E Jane. Parent’s Incomes and Children’s Outcomes: A Quasi-experiment Using Transfer Payments from Casino Profits. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. 2010;2(1):86–115. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Akee Randall, Simeonova Emilia, Copeland William, Angold Adrian, Costello E Jane. Young Adult Obesity and Household Income: Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Dataset. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/app.5.2.1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
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