The macroeconomic impacts of diet-related fiscal policy for NCD prevention: A systematic review

Mounsey, Sarah; Veerman, Lennert; Jan, Stephen; Thow, Anne Marie

doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100854

Cited by 26 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to a recent systematic review of diet-related fiscal policies, the evidence base on the labor market impacts of SSB taxes is limited [ 9 ]. Further, the current literature includes a number of industry-funded modeling studies that estimate gross job losses from partial analyses [ 9 ]. Non-industry peer-reviewed modeling and empirical studies, on the other hand, have consistently found no net reductions in employment or increases in unemployment [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Employment impacts of the San Francisco sugar-sweetened beverage tax 2 years after implementation

2021

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Introduction Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented worldwide to raise revenue and reduce consumption of SSBs, which is associated with health harms. Empirical evaluations have found that these taxes are successful at reducing demand for SSBs; however, SSB taxes face opposition, in part because of claims that they will lead to substantial job losses. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the San Francisco SSB tax, implemented on January 1st, 2018, on employment. Methods Monthly employment counts were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from January 2013 (5-years pre-tax) through December 2019 (2-years post-tax) for the overall economy, private sector, supermarkets and other grocery stores, convenience stores, limited-service restaurants, and beverage manufacturing. A synthetic control analysis was conducted for each employment outcome. The synthetic controls (i.e., estimated counterfactuals) were generated from a pool of urban control counties using pre-tax labor market-related characteristics. Results The synthetic controls had similar labor market-related characteristics and employment outcomes to those in San Francisco in the pre-tax period. Up to 2 years post-tax, differences in employment between San Francisco and the synthetic controls were small and not “statistically significant” based on placebo tests for all employment outcomes. Conclusions Up to two years post-tax, we do not find evidence that the San Francisco SSB tax negatively impacted net employment, employment in the private sector, or employment in specific SSB-related industries.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Employment impacts of the San Francisco sugar-sweetened beverage tax 2 years after implementation

2021

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“…Concerns such as regressivity in terms of price (a disproportionate impact on the poor) and impacts on industry and employment while frequently raised are not an issue [20,21]. There is significant scope for strengthening taxation at the national level across SSA; but progress is likely to be hampered by politico-economic barriers [20,22]. This paper examines the political economy of SSB taxation in seven SSA countries in east and southern Africa.…”

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confidence: 99%

The political economy of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation: an analysis from seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Thow

Karim

Mukanu

et al. 2021

Global Health Action

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Background: Non-communicable diseases are on the rise across sub-Saharan Africa. The region has become a targeted growth market for sugar-sweetened beverages, which are associated with weight gain, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Objective: To identify politico-economic factors relevant to nutrition-related fiscal policies, and to draw lessons regarding strategies to strengthen sugar-sweetened beverages taxation in the region and globally. Methods: We collected documentary data on policy content, stakeholders and corporate political activity from seven countries in east and southern Africa augmented by qualitative interviews in Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and Zambia, and stakeholder consultations in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Data were analysed using a political economy framework, focusing on ideas, institutions, interests and power, and a 'bricolage' approach was employed to identify strategies for future action. Results: Non-communicable diseases were recognised as a priority in all countries. Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda had taxes on non-alcoholic beverages, which varied in rate and tax base, but appeared to be motivated by revenue rather than health concerns. Botswana and Namibia indicated intention to adopt sugar-sweetened beverage taxes. Healthoriented sugar-sweetened beverage taxation faced challenges from entrenched economic policy paradigms for industry-led economic growth and was actively opposed by sugarsweetened beverage-related industries. Strategies identified to support stronger sugar-sweetened beverage taxation included shifting the economic discourse to strengthen health considerations, developing positive public opinion, forging links with the agriculture sector for shared benefit, and leadership by a central government agency. Conclusions: There are opportunities for more strategic public health engagement with the economic sector to foster strong nutrition-related fiscal policy for non-communicable disease prevention in the region.

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“…The urgency of addressing policy across sectors is recognised by key international agencies like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) who note that 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society responses are essential' to address the rise of NCDs. 17 The argument for the regulation of unhealthy product-producing industries from public health advocates has historically come up against, often exaggerated, 18 economic arguments within these sectors that highlight the impacts regulation would have on employment and wealth creation. These arguments are often coupled with ideological arguments advancing freedom of choice and the unintended consequences of 'big government'.…”

Section: Gaps In Progress On Ncd Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersectoral policy on industries that produce unhealthy commodities: governing in a new era of the global economy?

Lencucha

Thow

2020

BMJ Glob Health

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Tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods are key contributors to non-communicable diseases globally. Public health advocates have been proactive in recent years, developing systems to monitor and mitigate both health harms and influence by these industries. However, establishing and implementating strong government regulation of these unhealthy product-producing industries remains challenging. The relevant regulatory instruments lie not only with ministries of health but with agriculture, finance, industry and trade, largely driven by economic concerns. These policy sectors are often unreceptive to public health imperatives for restrictions on industry, including policies regarding labelling, marketing and excise taxes. Heavily influenced by traditional economic paradigms, they have been more receptive to industry calls for (unfettered) market competition, the rights of consumers to choose and the need for government to allow industry free rein; at most to establish voluntary standards of consumer protection, and certainly not to directly regulate industry products and practices. In recent years, the status quo of a narrow economic rationality that places economic growth above health, environment or other social goals is being re-evaluated by some governments and key international economic agencies, leading to windows of opportunity with the potential to transform how governments approach food, tobacco and alcohol as major, industry-driven risk factors. To take advantage of this window of opportunity, the public health community must work with different sectors of government to(1) reimagine policy mandates, drawing on whole-of-government imperatives for sustainable development, and (2) closely examine the institutional structures and governance processes, in order to create points of leverage for economic policies that also support improved health outcomes.

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The macroeconomic impacts of diet-related fiscal policy for NCD prevention: A systematic review

Cited by 26 publications

References 22 publications

Employment impacts of the San Francisco sugar-sweetened beverage tax 2 years after implementation

Employment impacts of the San Francisco sugar-sweetened beverage tax 2 years after implementation

The political economy of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation: an analysis from seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Intersectoral policy on industries that produce unhealthy commodities: governing in a new era of the global economy?

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