SpringerLink
Log in

The hidden cost of sophistication: economic complexity and obesity

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The European Journal of Health Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Obesity has become a global health crisis, affecting people of all ages, regions, and socio-economic backgrounds. While individual behaviour and genetic factors contribute to obesity, the role of economic complexity in the evolution of obesity rates has not yet been empirically studied. Using a large panel of 110 countries over the period 1976–2015, this article estimates the linear and non-linear links between obesity and economic complexity. According to baseline results, an improvement in economic complexity will lead to an increase in obesity up to a certain threshold. Beyond this turning point, any further increase in economic complexity will significantly contribute to obesity reduction. The issue of simultaneity is tackled using the two-stage instrumental variable method. Our findings support the Obesity Kuznets Curve (OKC) pattern, which suggests that economic progress and obesity have an inverted U-shaped relationship. Our results suggest that greater embeddedness of knowledge in the products produced and exported by a country increases the likelihood of obesity in society, at least up to a threshold. From these results, some important policy implications are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Source: Authors’ construction from WHO data

Fig. 2

Source: Authors’ construction

Fig. 3

Source: Authors’ construction

Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made availabe upon reasonable request from the authors.

Notes

  1. Thus, we have eight non-overlap** five-year intervals: 1976–1980; 1981–1985; 1986–1990; 1991–1995; 1996–2000; 2001–2005; 2006–2010 and 2011–2015.

  2. https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A867?lang=en.

  3. Suleman Dawood School of Business, LUMS, Pakistan.

  4. We limit ourselves to adopting a broad definition of regions according to the World Bank classification.

  5. Chiappini et al. [30] take a similar approach in the FDI-health relationship by assuming that a specific country's level of inward FDI in a given year is highly dependent on the level of inward FDI of its neighbours, especially from the previous period. Similarly, in order to mitigate endogeneity problems in the political stability-equality relationship, Vu [108] uses the level of political instability of neighboring countries as an instrumental variable for a country's own political instability.

  6. There are empirical approaches to identifying robust determinants of obesity, such as the Extreme Bounds Analysis (EBA) proposed by Sala-I-Martin [94]. EBA is a relatively neutral procedure by which variables can be selected for an empirical model when the theoretical determinants of a phenomenon are ambiguous or conflicting. While this approach is interesting and robust, we assume that the determinants highlighted in this article are regularly cited in recent literature as drivers of obesity. Moreover, given that it is impossible to control for all observable and unobservable drivers of obesity, we limit ourselves to applying the procedure proposed by Oster [83], which is more recent. This robust approach has also been implemented by more recent studies in health economics (see Vu [107],Mohanty and Saxena [85],Ahsan and Thakur [3]).

  7. See https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113312. Accessed November 18, 2022.

References

  1. Abay, K.A., Ibrahim, H., Breisinger, C.: Food policies and obesity in low-and middle-income countries. World Dev. 151, 105775 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Acemoglu, D., Naidu, S., Restrepo, P., Robinson, J.A.: Democracy does cause growth. J. Polit. Econ. 127(1), 47–100 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ahsan, M.N., Thakur, S.: The great Indian demonetization and gender gap in health outcomes: evidence from two Indian states. Econ. Hum. Biol. 53, 101369 (2024)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Albeaik, S.; Kaltenberg, M.; Alsaleh, M.; Hidalgo, C. A. (2017). Measuring the Knowledge Intensity of Economies with an Improved Measure of Economic Complexity. ar**v preprint ar**v:1707.05826.

  5. Ali, M.M., Amialchuk, A., Gao, S., Heiland, F.: Adolescent weight gain and social networks: is there a contagion effect? Appl. Econ. 44(23), 2969–2983 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Alola, A.A., Bekun, F.V.: Obesity Kuznets curve and the reality of eco-income ellipsoids (EIE). Eur. J. Health Econ. 22(7), 1095–1101 (2021)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Altonji, J.G., Elder, T.E., Taber, C.R.: An evaluation of instrumental variable strategies for estimating the effects of catholic schooling. J Human Res. 40(4), 791–821 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ameye, H., Swinnen, J.: Obesity, income and gender: the changing global relationship. Glob. Food Sec. 23, 267–281 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Anand, P., Gray, A.: Obesity as market failure: could a ‘deliberative economy’ overcome the problems of paternalism?. Kyklos 62(2), 182–190 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Andrews, I., Stock, J.H., Sun, L.: Weak instruments in instrumental variables regression: theory and practice. Ann. Rev. Econ. 11, 727–753 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Arif, I.: Productive knowledge, economic sophistication, and labor share. World Dev. 139, 105303 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Arora, S.: Health, human productivity, and long-term economic growth. J. Econ. Hist. 61(3), 699–749 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Aydin, M.: The effect of economic growth on obesity for the most obese countries: new evidence from the obesity Kuznets curve. Eur. J. Health Econ. 20(9), 1349–1358 (2019)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Bahar, D., Hausmann, R., Hidalgo, C.A.: Neighbors and the evolution of the comparative advantage of nations: evidence of international knowledge diffusion? J. Int. Econ. 92(1), 111–123 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bahar, D., Rapoport, H., & Turati, R.: Birthplace diversity and economic complexity: Cross-country evidence. Res. Policy, 103991 (2020)

  16. Balland, P.A., Broekel, T., Diodato, D., Giuliani, E., Hausmann, R., O’Clery, N., Rigby, D.: The new paradigm of economic complexity. Res. Policy 51(3), 104450 (2022)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Barlow, P., McKee, M., Basu, S., Stuckler, D.: The health impact of trade and investment agreements: a quantitative systematic review and network co-citation analysis. Glob. Health 13(1), 1–9 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Bartik, T. J.: Who benefits from state and local economic development policies? (1991)

  19. Becker, G.S.: Health as human capital: synthesis and extensions. Oxf. Econ. Pap. 59(3), 379–410 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bilal, B., Saleem, F., Fatima, S.S.: Alcohol consumption and obesity: The hidden scare with COVID-19 severity. Med. Hypotheses 144, 110272 (2020)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Bloom, D. E., Kuhn, M., & Prettner, K.: Health and economic growth (No. IZA DP No. 11939). Bonn (2018)

  22. Bucci, A., Carbonari, L., Gil, P.M., Trovato, G.: Economic growth and innovation complexity: an empirical estimation of a Hidden Markov Model. Econ. Model. 98, 86–99 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Buttitta, M., Iliescu, C., Rousseau, A., Guerrien, A.: Quality of life in overweight and obese children and adolescents: a literature review. Qual. Life Res. 23(4), 1117–1139 (2014)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Carlin, P.S., Kidd, M.P., Ulubaşoğlu, M.A.: Does legal heritage affect obesity? The channel of motor vehicle dependence. J. Comp. Econ. 41(2), 621–633 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Case, A., Menendez, A.: Sex differences in obesity rates in poor countries: evidence from South Africa. Econ. Hum. Biol. 7(3), 271–282 (2009)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Cawley, J.: An economy of scales: a selective review of obesity’s economic causes, consequences, and solutions. J. Health Econ. 43(2015), 244–268 (2015)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cen, X., Johnston, D.W., Kung, C.S., Shields, M.A., Sun, E.C.: The link between health and economic preferences: evidence from 22 OECD countries. Health Econ. 30(4), 915–920 (2021)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Chen, L., Liu, W.: The effect of Internet access on body weight: Evidence from China. J. Health Econ. 85, 102670 (2022)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cherif, R., Hasanov, F., & Wang, L.: Sharp instrument: A stab at identifying the causes of economic growth. International Monetary Fund (2018)

  30. Chiappini, R., Coupaud, M., Viaud, F.: Does attracting FDI affect population health? New evidence from a multi-dimensional measure of health. Soc. Sci. Med. 301, 114878 (2022)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Christakis, N.A., Fowler, J.H.: The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. N. Engl. J. Med. 357(4), 370–379 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa066082

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Daran, B., Levasseur, P., Clément, M.: Updating the association between socioeconomic status and obesity in low-income and lower-middle-income sub-Saharan African countries: a literature review. Obesity Rev 24(10), 1–11 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. DiNardi, M., Guldi, M., Simon, D.: Body weight and Internet access: evidence from the rollout of broadband providers. J. Popul. Econ. 32(3), 877–913 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Farrell, P., Thow, A.M., Abimbola, S., Faruqui, N., Negin, J.: How food insecurity could lead to obesity in LMICs: when not enough is too much: a realist review of how food insecurity could lead to obesity in low-and middle-income countries. Health Promot. Int. 33(5), 812–826 (2018)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Felipe, J., Kumar, U., Abdon, A., Bacate, M.: Product Complexity and Economic Development. Struc. Change Econ. Dynam. 23(1), 36–68 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Finlay, K., Magnusson, L.M.: Implementing weak-instrument robust tests for a general class of instrumental-variables models. Stand. Genomic Sci. 9(3), 398–421 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Floud, R., Fogel, R.W., Harris, B., Hong, S.C.: The changing body: Health, nutrition, and human development in the Western World since 1700. Cambridge University Press, New York (2011)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  38. Gala, P., Rocha, I., Magachi, G.: The structuralist revenge: Economic complexity as an important dimension to evaluate growth and development. Brazilian J. Politic. Econ. 38(2), 219–236 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Gimenez-Nadal, J.I., Molina, J.A.: Health status and the allocation of time: Cross-country evidence from Europe. Econ. Model. 46, 188–203 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Gnangnon, S.K.: Economic complexity and poverty in develo** countries. Econ. Aff. 41(3), 416–429 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Goryakin, Y., Suhrcke, M.: Economic development, urbanization, technological change and overweight: what do we learn from 244 Demographic and Health Surveys? Econ. Hum. Biol. 14, 109–127 (2014)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Goryakin, Y., Lobstein, T., James, W.P.T., Suhrcke, M.: The impact of economic, political and social globalization on overweight and obesity in the 56 low- and middle-income countries. Soc. Sci. Med. 133, 67–76 (2015)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Grecu, A.M., Rotthoff, K.W.: Economic growth and obesity: Findings of an Obesity Kuznets curve. Appl. Econ. Lett. 22(7), 539–543 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Griffith, R., Van Reenen, J.: Product market competition, creative destruction, and innovation. In: The Economics of Creative Destruction: New Research on Themes from Aghion and Howitt, 43 (2023)

  45. Grossman, Michael, & Naci, M.: Economic aspects of obesity. (Micheal Grossman & N. Mocan, Eds.) (2011th ed.). Chicago: National Bureau of Economic Research (2011)

  46. Grossman, M.: On the concept of health capital and the demand for health. J. Polit. Econ. 80(2), 223–255 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Guarnizo-Herreño, C.C., Courtemanche, C., Wehby, G.L.: Effects of contextual economic factors on childhood obesity. Matern. Child Health J. 23(10), 1317–1326 (2019)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Güneri, B., Yalta, A.Y.: Does economic complexity reduce output volatility in develo** countries? Bull. Econ. Res. 73(3), 411–431 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Hartmann, D., Guevara, M.R., Jara-Figueroa, C., Aristarán, M., Hidalgo, C.A.: Linking economic complexity, institutions, and income inequality. World Dev. 93, 75–93 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Hausmann, R., Hidalgo, C.A.: The network structure of economic output. J. Econ. Growth, 16(4), 309–342 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Hausmann, R., Hidalgo, C. A., Bustos, S., Coscia, M., & Simoes, A.: The atlas of economic complexity: Map** paths to prosperity. Mit Press (2014)

  52. Hausmann, R., Hwang, J., Rodrik, D.: What you export matters. J. Econ. Growth 12(1), 1–25 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Hemmingsson, E., Nowicka, P., Ulijaszek, S., Sørensen, T.I.: The social origins of obesity within and across generations. Obesity Rev. 24(1), e13514 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Hidalgo, C.A., Hausmann, R.: The building blocks of economic complexity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 26, 10570–10575 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Hidalgo, C.A., Hausmann, R.: The Building Blocks of Economic Complexity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 106(26), 10570–10575 (2009)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Hidalgo, C.A., Klinger, B., Barabási, A.L., Hausmann, R.: The product space conditions the development of nations. Science 317(5837), 482–487 (2007)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Inglehart, R., Baker, W.E.: Modernization, cultural change, and the persistence of traditional values. Am. Sociol. Rev. 65(1), 19–51 (2000). https://doi.org/10.2307/2657288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Jolliffe, D.: Overweight and poor? On the relationship between income and the body mass index. Econ. Hum. Biol. 9(4), 342–355 (2011)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Kelly, I.R., Doytch, N., Dave, D.: How does body mass index affect economic growth? A comparative analysis of countries by levels of economic development. Econ. Hum. Biol. 34, 58–73 (2019)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Kilpi, F., Webber, L., Musaigner, A., Aitsi-Selmi, A., Marsh, T., Rtveladze, K., Brown, M.: Alarming predictions for obesity and non-communicable diseases in the Middle East. Public Health Nutrit. 17(5), 1078–1086 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Kim, Y.J.: The long-run effect of education on obesity in the US. Econ. Hum. Biol. 21, 100–109 (2016)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Kleibergen, F., Paap, R.: Generalized reduced rank tests using the singular value decomposition. J Econom. 133(1), 97–126 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Kovac, M., Spruk, R.: Does the ban on trans-fats improve public health? In search of the optimal policy response. J. Regul. Econ. 55, 258–281 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Kropfhäußer, F., Sunder, M.: A weighty issue revisited: the dynamic effect of body weight on earnings and satisfaction in Germany. Appl. Econ. 47(41), 4364–4376 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Lakdawalla, D., Philipson, T.: The growth of obesity and technological change. Econ. Hum. Biol. 7(3), 283–293 (2009)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  66. Lakdawalla, D., Philipson, T., Bhattacharya, J.: Welfare-enhancing technological change and the growth of obesity. Am. Econ. Rev. 95(2), 253–257 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1257/000282805774670266

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Lapatinas, A., Litina, A.: Intelligence and economic sophistication. Emp. Econ. 57(5), 1731–1750 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Lin, T.K., Teymourian, Y., Tursini, M.S.: The effect of sugar and processed food imports on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 172 countries. Glob. Health 14(1), 1–14 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Lind, J.T., Mehlum, H.: With or without U? The appropriate test for a U-shaped relationship. Oxford Bull. Econ. Stat. 72(1), 109–118 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Ljungvall, Å.: The freer the fatter? A panel study of the relationship between body-mass index and economic freedom (No. 2013: 23). Working Paper (2013)

  71. Ljungvall, Å., Gerdtham, U.G., Lindblad, U.: Misreporting and misclassification: implications for socioeconomic disparities in body-mass index and obesity. Eur. J. Health Econ. 16, 5–20 (2015)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Luzzati, T., Parenti, A., Rughi, T.: Economic growth and cancer incidence. Ecol. Econ. 146, 381–396 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.11.031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Marson, M., Saccone, D., Vallino, E.: Does food import contribute to rising obesity in low-and middle-income countries? Kyklos (2024). https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Mary, S., Stoler, A.: Does agricultural trade liberalization increase obesity in develo** countries? Rev. Dev. Econ. 25(3), 1326–1350 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.12757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Mathieu-Bolh, N.: The elusive link between income and obesity. J. Econ. Surv. 36(4), 935–968 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Mazhar, U., Rehman, F.: Productivity, obesity, and human capital: Panel data evidence. Econ. Hum. Biol. 44, 101096 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101096

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Meltzer, D. O., & Chen, Z.: The impact of minimum wage rates on body weight in the United States. In Michael Grossman & N. Mocan (Eds.), Economic Aspects of Obesity. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press (2011)

  78. Miljkovic, D., de Miranda, S.H., Kassouf, A.L., Oliveira, F.C.: Determinants of obesity in Brazil: the effects of trade liberalization and socio-economic variables. Appl. Econ. 50(28), 3076–3088 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Miljkovic, D., Shaik, S., Miranda, S., Barabanov, N., Liogier, A.: Globalisation and obesity. World Econ. 38(8), 1278–1294 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. Miranda-Pinto, J.: Production network structure, service share, and aggregate volatility. Rev. Econ. Dyn. 39, 146–173 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Mohanty, A., Saxena, A.: Diarrheal disease, sanitation, and culture in India. Soc. Sci. Med. 317, 115541 (2023)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Nguyen, D.T.H.: Inward foreign direct investment and local wages: The case of Vietnam’s wholesale and retail industry. J. Asian Econ. 65, 101134 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Oster, E.: Unobservable selection and coefficient stability: theory and evidence. J. Bus. Econ. Stat. 37(2), 187–204 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Oswald, A.J., Powdthavee, N.: Obesity, unhappiness, and the challenge of affluence: theory and evidence. Economic Journal 117(6), 441–454 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  85. Owen, A.L., Wu, S.: Is trade good for your health? Rev. Int. Econ. 15(4), 660–682 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  86. Pastore, C., Schurer, S., Tymula, A., Fuller, N., & Caterson, I.: Economic preferences and obesity: Evidence from a clinical lab-in-field experiment (IZA Discussion Paper Series No. 13915) (2020)

  87. Popkin, B., Ng, S.W.: The nutrition transition in high-and low-income countries: what are the policy lessons? Agric. Econ. 37, 199–211 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  88. Restrepo, B.J., Rieger, M.: Denmark’s policy on artificial trans fat and cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Prev. Med. 50(1), 69–76 (2016)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Romero, J.P., Gramkow, C.: Economic complexity and greenhouse gas emissions. World Dev. 139, 105317 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Roseer, B.J., Jr.: Foundations and applications of complexity economics (pp. 25–51). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70668-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Sala-I-Martin, X. X.: (1997). I Just Ran Two Million Regressions. The American Economic Review, 178–183 (1997)

  92. Schneider, P., Popkin, B., Shekar, M., Eberwein, J.D., Block, C., Okamura, K.S.: Health and economic impacts of overweight/obesity. Health Econ. Consequences Impend Glob. Challenge (2020). https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1491-4_ch3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Segal, A.B., Huerta, M.C., Aurino, E., Sassi, F.: The impact of childhood obesity on human capital in high income countries: A systematic review. Obesity Rev. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Shekar, M., & Popkin, B.: Obesity: Health and economic consequences of an impending global challenge. Washington, DC (2020)

  95. Solow, R.M.: A contribution to the theory of economic growth. Q. J. Econ. 70(1), 65–94 (1956)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  96. Spruk, R., Kovac, M.: Does a ban on trans fats improve public health: synthetic control evidence from Denmark. Swiss J. Econ. Statist. 156, 1–32 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  97. Stender, S., Dyerberg, J., Astrup, A.: Consumer protection through a legislative ban on industrially produced trans fatty acids in foods in Denmark. Scandinavian J. Food Nutrit. 50(4), 155–160 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  98. Stevano, S., Johnston, D., Codjoe, E.: Better decisions for food security? Critical reflections on the economics of food choice and decision-making in development economics. Camb. J. Econ. 44(4), 813–833 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  99. Strulik, H.: A mass phenomenon: the social evolution of obesity. J. Health Econ. 33, 113–125 (2014)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  100. Thow, A.M., Hawkes, C.: The implications of trade liberalization for diet and health: a case study from Central America. Glob. Health 5(1), 1–15 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  101. Touray, M.M., Cohen, D.R., Williams, S.R.P., Alam, M.F., Groves, S., Longo, M., Gage, H.: Overweight/obesity and time preference: evidence from a survey among adults in the UK. Obes. Facts 15(3), 428–441 (2022)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  102. Trogdon, J.G., Nonnemaker, J., Pais, J.: Peer effects in adolescent overweight. J. Health Econ. 27(5), 1388–1399 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Valette, J.: Do migrants transfer productive knowledge back to their origin countries? J. Develop. Stud. 54(9), 1637–1656 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  104. Vu, T.V.: Economic complexity and health outcomes: A global perspective. Soc. Sci. Med. 265, 113480 (2020)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Vu, T.V.: Unbundling the effect of political instability on income redistribution. Eur. J. Polit. Econ. 75, 102189 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  106. Walls, H. L., Backholer, K., Proietto, J., & McNeil, J. J.: Obesity and trends in life expectancy. J. Obesity, https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/107989 (2012)

  107. Wang, Y., Sloan, F.A.: Present bias and health. J. Risk Uncertain. 57(2), 177–198 (2018)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  108. Webbink, D., Martin, N.G., Visscher, P.M.: Does education reduce the probability of being overweight? J. Health Econ. 29(1), 29–38 (2010)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Well, D.N.: Accounting for the effect of health on economic growth. Q. J. Econ. 122(3), 1265–1306 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  110. WHO.: Global Health Observatory (GHO) data repository (2022)

  111. Willage, B.: The effect of weight on mental health: New evidence using genetic IVs. J. Health Econ. 57, 113–130 (2018)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  112. Windarti, N.A.N.I.K., Hlaing, S.W., Kakinaka, M.: Obesity Kuznets curve: international evidence. Public Health 169, 26–35 (2019)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Wooldridge.: Introductory Econometrics: a modern approach, 3rd edition, Mason, OH: Thomson South Westren (2006)

  114. Wüst, K., Volkert, J.: Childhood and capability deprivation in Germany: a quantitative analysis using German socio-economic panel data. Soc. Indic. Res. 106(3), 439–469 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  115. Young, A.: Consistency without inference: Instrumental variables in practical application. Eur. Econ. Rev. 104112 (2022)

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the journal editor and the three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and helpful suggestions. Our gratitude also goes to Eric Tamno for his constructive suggestions. All other errors are our own.

Funding

This study was funded by LUMS Research Grant (OVH122-SDB-Ummad).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dschang School of Economics and Management (DSEM), University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

    Ronald Djeunankan

  2. Faculty of Economics and Management (LAREFA), University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

    Sosson Tadadjeu & Henri Njangang

  3. Suleman Dawood School of Business, DHA, Phase V, Lahore Cantt, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, 54792

    Ummad Mazhar

  4. World Bank, Nouakchott, Mauritania

    Sosson Tadadjeu

Authors
  1. Ronald Djeunankan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sosson Tadadjeu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Henri Njangang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ummad Mazhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronald Djeunankan.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

See below Tables 10 and 11.

Table 10 List of countries
Full size table
Table 11 Further analysis with additional control variables
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Djeunankan, R., Tadadjeu, S., Njangang, H. et al. The hidden cost of sophistication: economic complexity and obesity. Eur J Health Econ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-024-01699-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-024-01699-7

Keywords

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation