Here’s the case for imposing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages: 1) Obesity is a major public health problem, through its effects on diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, certain cancers, and mental health; 2) Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is an outsized contributor to obesity; 3) Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages will raise the cost that consumers pay, and thus…
The Limited Effects of Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
The Limited Effects of Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
04 Nov 2023 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, applied welfare economics, health economics Tags: nanny state, sugar taxes
Soda Tax hurts the Poor says @SenSanders @TaxpayersUnion @EricCrampton
26 May 2018 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, applied welfare economics, health economics, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA Tags: nanny state, Old Left, regressive left, sugar taxes
Straight talking from @BernieSanders on #sugartaxes @JordNZ
06 May 2016 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, health economics, income redistribution, politics - USA, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: 2016 presidential election, do gooders, heavy-handed Samaritans, meddlesome preferences, nanny state, regressive taxes, sin taxes, soda taxes, sugar taxes
Gary Becker on the weak case for junk food taxes @JordNZ @dpfdpf
20 Feb 2016 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, health economics, liberalism, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA Tags: do gooders, food police, junk food taxes, meddlesome preferences, nanny state, sugar taxes
Source: Gary Becker Fat Taxes, or Just Fat? | Hoover Institution (2010).
Most healthcare expenditures are in the last 3 to 6 months of life. Smokers and overeaters live shorter lives. This can save more than it costs to the health budget. That finding is sufficiently frequent as to put the fiscal case for junk food taxes and sugar taxes on the canvas but still with a chance of getting back up to fight on.
At a minimum, it makes junk food and sugar taxes a legitimate topic for honest disagreement. That is before you consider that people have the right to live their lives according to their own lights and make a few sometimes big mistakes along the way as part of finding their way.
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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