Implications of Table Sugar and Natural & Artificial Sweetener Consumption for Body Weight, Welfare, and Public Policy

Implications of Table Sugar and Natural & Artificial Sweetener Consumption for Body Weight, Welfare, and Public Policy

Faculty Lead: Vardges Hovhannisyan

The primary objective of this research is to quantify the structure of consumer demand in the U.S. for table sugars and both natural and artificial sweeteners. The study aims to estimate the degree of sweetener addiction, explore various separable structures to assess potential substitutability among caloric sweeteners as well as non-caloric artificial sweeteners and examine the effectiveness of policy interventions in achieving desired body weight outcomes while minimizing negative consequences for consumer welfare.

By addressing these objectives and integrating recent advancements in consumer theory and econometric techniques with uniquely disaggregated data, this research aims to enhance the understanding of energy intake resulting from sweetener consumption and provide valuable insights for informed public policy decisions.