The Causes of Childhood Obesity and Why Might Philip Larkin Have the Answer?
Professor Peter Dolton
University of Sussex and the Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
Abstract
This paper examines two possible determinants of childhood obesity. Specifically we consider the
role of the intergenerational transmission process – i.e. if obesity can be ‘passed on’ from parents to
child by examining data from 7 countries from around the world. Secondly we examine the
possibility that fast food plays a role in this process. Recently it has been suggested that the
proximity of fast food plays a causal role in this process – using a novel econometric identification
strategy we critically examine the evidence from the UK.
Biography
Peter Dolton is a Professor of Economics at the University of Sussex and a Senior Research Fellow at
the London School of Economics. He has previously held appointments at Hull, Bristol and London
Universities. His research interests are in the labour economics, applied econometrics and the
economics of education. He has published over 120 articles in leading economics journals on topics
such as: the teacher labour market, gender discrimination, the rate of return to education, public
sector pay, unemployment duration, the effects of the Minimum Wage, pension reform and aspects
of labour supply. His current research is mainly on the economics of health. He has served as a
consultant to the HMTreasury, the Departments of Education and Employment, the Home Office,
the Department of Health, the World Bank, the OECD and DEFRA and done research for the OME
and the Low Pay Commission. He has previously served on the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review
Body (2004-2007) the School Teachers Pay Review Body (2009-2011) and the Armed Forces Pay
Review Body (2011-14).