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IF YOU’RE among those who eats too much and moves little, listen
in. There’s an economic plot line that explains why you may
be among the heaviest people on earth. One, you are eating
more than your ancestors did because it’s cheaper and
technologically easier than ever to order that pizza or ask
for double helpings. Two, it is more expensive than ever
before to get those muscles moving.
Technology-driven changes have altered the cost dynamics of
undertaking physical and leisure activities. This has
changed the incentives related to energy expenditure. The
resulting increase in energy consumption and flattening of
energy expenditure has tilted the weight equation in favour
of a steady weight gain.
Sure, economics does not provide all the answers. Even so,
examining your eating and work habits under an economist’s
lens may well become an important way for governments across
the world to think of smart moves in the battle of the
bulge.
Cheaper food has been the main reason for people to eat more.
Prices change over time due to a variety of reasons,
including availability of resources, but the prime mover of
prices is technology. Better production and distribution
technologies that generate more and improved goods are
driving food prices down.
Food prices, whether at the grocer or at a restaurant, have been
declining relative to prices of all other items.
If you factor in “quality” improvements, the reduced time and cost
of acquiring and preparing food (convenience), greater
variety and omnipresent restaurants and vending machine s,
the drop is even more dramatic. Foods that were earlier
available only seasonally, are now found on shelves
throughout the year.
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