Intergenerational transmission of non-communicable chronic diseases
2012
Vieira Goulao, Catarina, C. | Perez Barahona, Agustin, A. | Groupe de recherche en économie mathématique et quantitative (GREMAQ) ; Université Toulouse Capitole (UT Capitole) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | Economie Publique (ECO-PUB) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-AgroParisTech
We introduce a theoretical framework that contributes to the understanding of non-communicable chronic diseases' (NCDs) epidemics: even if NCDs are non-infectious diseases, they may spread due to the social transmission of unhealthy activities such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking. In particular, we study the intergenerational dimension of this mechanism. We find that, due to the social transmission of NCDs, agents choose lower health conditions and higher unhealthy activities than what is socially optimal. Taxes on unhealthy activities, that may subsidize health investments, can be used to restore the social optimum. Finally, our model is consistent with the existence of regional asymmetries regarding the prevalence of obesity and NCDs.
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