Estimating the Impact of Education on Household Fruit and Vegetable Purchases. (3rd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berning, Joshua; Hogan, John J.
• Is Part Of: Applied economic perspectives and policy. Volume 36:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 460
• Page End: 478
• Publication Date: 2014-05-03
• Subjects: Fruit and vegetable consumption -- returns to education -- two‐stage model; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture and state -- Periodicals; 338.105
• DOI: 10.1093/aepp/ppu006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-5790

Abstract

Abstract: We examine the effect that investments in education have on household expenditure on fruits and vegetables using a two‐stage model that accounts for differences in ability and heterogeneous returns to education. For this, we use the 2008 Consumer Expenditure Survey for the United States. We find that higher levels of education contribute to greater household expenditures on both fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. We find a nonlinear effect on fresh fruits and vegetables, indicating that education impacts the quality of purchases as well. Although nutritional education is often touted as important for a healthful diet, these results highlight how investments in human capital via formal education can potentially improve dietary quality as well.