Is international trade causing obesity in developing countries?

Bachelor Thesis , 2014 , 42 Pages , Grade: A

Economics - Foreign Trade Theory, Trade Policy

This research paper was written as my final honors thesis in economics. I was questioning the somewhat sudden high rates of obesity found in many developing countries today. I found several reasons for why obesity has sky rocketed in the global south, finding that most trends leading to obesity derived from the western lifestyle.

One significant change between the western world and the developing world is that for the global south the transition to industrialization and development happened at a much faster pace. The sudden modernization has in many places led to extreme changes in behavior and lifestyle. The one trend that reoccured in most developing countries and had the highest effect on obesity rates was the infiltration of food products, mostly from western food corporations. I look at some specific practices made by companies like Nestle and others, as well as looking at behavioral changes in some of the worst hit areas like the Pacific Island nations.

Contents

Introduction

Developing Countries And Trade Liberalization

Diet Change And Obesity In The Developing World

The Role Of Big Food Corporations

Foreign Direct Investment

Trade Agreements: The North American Free Trade Agreement

The Pacific Island Nations, The Case Of Micronesia

Trade Agreements: Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.

Obesity Levels And Socio-Economic Status

The Global Food System

Liberalization Of Markets In Africa

Income, Price Fluctuations And Consumer Behavior

Food Sovereignty- A Solution To Food Issues?

Food Corporation Reaching The Remote Areas And Emerging Markets

The Economic Theory: Supply And Demand

Supply And Demand After Trade

(WHO) Obesity Ranking: The Top Ten Countries Case Study

Results

Increased Imports Of Processed Food Over Time

What Globalization Did To Consumer Behavior

Future Of Processed Food On The Global Scale

Conclusion

Bibliography

• Course: Economics, international trade, obesity, corruption, developing countries, global south, nestle, Pacific Island Nations
• Grade: A
• Author: Mathilde Laderud (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 42
• Catalog Number: V288762
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668399303
• ISBN (Book): 9783668399310
• Language: English
• Tags: Economics, international trade, obesity, corruption, developing countries, global south, nestle, Pacific Island Nations, obesity epidemic, Amazon, Palau, Micronesia, The United States, The Western Diet, Health, Lifestyle, Trends