The use of economic instruments to encourage consumers to eat healthy (in Lithuanian language)

Overweight and obesity are of great concern in many countries. In order to promote healthy diets, a government may intervene in the economy using economic instruments - food taxes and subsidies. Various countries tax unhealthy food. In 2011, Denmark became the first country in the world the government of which introduced a fat tax. The aim of the research is to examine the potentials and choice of economic instruments in order to encourage consumers to eat healthy. The paper explores the goal of using economic instruments, their types and practice of using in different countries. The analysis of studies which examined the impact of economic instruments on food consumption is presented. The expediency of choice of economic instruments is made in Lithuania.

Key words: economic instruments, food consumption, food subsidies, food taxes, obesity, nutrition.

JEL codes: H200, I180.

Eičaitė, O.; Gapšys, A. Ekonominių instrumentų taikymas, siekiant skatinti vartotojus sveikai maitintis // Vadybos mokslas ir studijos - kaimo verslų ir jų infrastruktūros plėtrai = Management theory and studies for rural business and infrastructure development / Aleksandro Stulginskio universitetas. Lietuvos agrarinės ekonomikos institutas. 2011, nr. 5 (29), p.64-73, ISSN 1822-6760 (EBSCOhost: Business Source Complete; Ulrich’s).