Effects of Risk and Time Preferences on Diet Quality: Empirical Evidence from Rural Madagascar.

ABSTRACT: Malnutrition is a major concern in Madagascar. Eating a wide variety of nutritious food is necessary because Malagasy diets heavily rely on rice consumption. This study explored the barriers to dietary change towards diversification from the perspective of consumer behaviour. We analysed the impact of risk and time preferences on dietary diversity using economic experiments conducted with 539 rural lowland rice farmers in Central Highlands in Madagascar. The results showed that risk-averse or impatient individuals were more likely to have lower Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), indicating poorer diet quality. Risk-averse people may not want to add different foods to meals as they perceive unfamiliar food as a 'risk'; people who prefer immediate gratification may fail to invest in n

SUBMITTER: Shiratori S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11476199 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature