The Nutrient Rich Food Price Index: a nutrition-relevant adaptation of the Laspeyres price index to track the cost of affordable nutrient density.

Background: The Laspeyres price index is the ratio of the current cost of a market basket of commodities or food groups relative to base period prices. Objective: To develop a nutrition-relevant version of the Laspeyres price index, using market baskets based on tertiles of the nutrient rich food (NRF9.3) nutrient density metric. Methods: Nutrient composition data for 151 foods from the 2012 Mexico national health and nutrition survey (ENSANUT) were merged with food prices and price indices from the national institute of geography and statistics (INEGI). Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRF9.3) was the measure of nutrient density. May 2012 was the base period. Nutrient rich food price index (NRFPI) values were calculated for each tertile of NRF nutrient density scores for each month between June 2011 and March 2022. Results: The market basket of foods in the top tertile of NRF nutrient density scores cost more per 100 kcal and had higher NRFPI values compared to foods in the bottom tertile. Higher NRF9.3 scores were correlated with greater monthly inflation. The NRFPI for foods in the top tertile of NRF9.3 scores was marked by seasonal price spikes, and greater volatility compared to foods in the bottom tertile. Conclusion: The present adaptation of the Laspeyres Index used market baskets defined by nutrient density tertiles instead of commodity groups. This approach allows for easier tracking of the cost of nutrient dense foods and healthful diets across geographic regions and over time. Applied to Mexico food prices prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NRFPI was sensitive to time trends, seasonality, and price fluctuations. The new tool may be useful in monitoring the rising cost of healthy foods worldwide.

Affordable Nutrient Density in Brazil: Nutrient Profiling in Relation to Food Cost and NOVA Category Assignments.

Affordable nutrient density is provided by low-cost and nutrient-rich foods. We explored nutrient density, cost, and NOVA category assignments within and across food groups in Brazil. The nutrient density of the foods (n = 591) was assessed using the Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRF9.3) based on protein, fiber, vitamin A (RAE), vitamin C, vitamin E (mg), Ca, Fe, K and Mg; and NRF6.3 score for priority nutrients: Ca, Fe, Zn, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and folate. Nutrients to limit (LIM) were saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium. Affordability was defined as the ratio of energy and/or nutrient density of foods and retail price per 100 kcal. Foods were classified as minimally processed (n = 106), processed (n = 188), ultra-processed (n = 286), and culinary ingredients (n = 11). Nutrient density was positively linked to per 100 kcal food cost. Ultra-processed foods (UPF) contained more energy, fat, sugar, and salt and had lower NRF scores compared to minimally processed (MPF) foods. UPF was also less expensive than MPF foods. Nutrient-rich foods below the median per 100 kcal costs included MPF foods, but also processed foods (PF) and UPF. Affordable nutrient-rich foods can be found in the different categories of the NOVA classification.

Identifying resilient industries in Mexico's automotive cluster: Policy lessons from the great recession to surmount the crisis caused by COVID 19.

This study investigates regional employment and production resilience to adverse crisis shocks. We extend the concept of resilience beyond the notion of resistance and fast recovery to include the potential of positive spillovers to related industries in neighboring regions. The industrial analysis of the automotive cluster in Mexico relies on a spatial shift-share approach to characterize the resilience ability of regional industries. The study employs the Sub-Prime crisis as a benchmark to identify the type of employment and production recovery after an adverse shock of similar magnitude. Four industries within the automotive cluster present various degrees of spatial dependence-those industries with the most significant spillover effects on neighboring regions. The type of resilience shown by these automotive industries in the regions during the Sub Prime Crisis serves as a benchmark to base policy government and corporate decisions after the economic crisis caused by the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2.

[Special excise tax on food and beverages and its impact on inflation in Mexico in terms of dynamics, persistence, and change of regimeImposto especial para alimentos e bebidas e seu impacto na inflação no México: dinâmica, persistência e mudança de regime]. / Impuesto especial a alimentos y bebidas y su impacto en la inflación en México: dinámica, persistencia y cambio de régimen.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to study the strength of transfer, the transitions, and the persistence of the special excise tax on products and services (known by its Spanish acronym, IEPS) applicable since January 2014 to high-energy foods and soft drinks, and the effect of the tax on the annual inflation rates for these foods and beverages. METHODS: Annual inflation rates for each food and beverage were calculated from January 2010 to December 2016, based on monthly data from the national consumer price index. A model of variable regimes was used to estimate the impact of the tax on the inflationary dynamics of the foods and beverages, as well as its transitions, persistence, and the possible ruptures. RESULTS: There was high variance in the inflationary dynamics of the high-calorie foods and soft drinks subject to the tax. The tax contributed gradually to price inflation for some high-calorie products, before returning to pre-tax inflation levels. The continuity of the tax did not affect the inflationary dynamics of the food after 2015. CONCLUSIONS: The tax should be accompanied by measures that facilitate its persistence and transfer to the inflationary dynamics of the taxed products. The taxes collected should be used to promote and facilitate the consumption of healthy alternatives, and this should be accompanied by educational measures aimed at continuing to change consumption habits in the medium and long term.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a força de transferência, transição e persistência do imposto especial sobre produtos e serviços (IEPS) para alimentos e bebidas de alta densidade calórica na taxa anual de inflação destes alimentos e refrigerantes, em vigor desde janeiro de 2014. MÉTODOS: As taxas anuais de inflação foram calculadas para cada alimento e bebida para o período de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2016 com base em dados mensais do índice nacional de preços ao consumidor (INPC). Um modelo de mudança de regime foi usado para estimar a repercussão do imposto na dinâmica inflacionária de alimentos e bebidas bem como a transição, persistência e possíveis suspensões do imposto. RESULTADOS: A dinâmica inflacionária dos alimentos de alta densidade calórica e de refrigerantes sobre os quais incide o imposto apresenta grande variação. O imposto foi gradualmente transferido à dinâmica inflacionária de alguns produtos de alta densidade calórica e, posteriormente, houve um retorno aos níveis inflacionários anteriores à tributação. A continuidade do imposto não tem influenciado a dinâmica inflacionária dos alimentos desde 2015. CONCLUSÕES: O imposto deve vir acompanhado de medidas para facilitar sua persistência e transferência à dinâmica inflacionária dos produtos tributados. A arrecadação destes impostos deve estimular e facilitar o consumo de alternativas de alimentos saudáveis, bem como vir acompanhado de medidas educativas para mudar os hábitos de consumo de forma sustentada a médio e longo prazo.

Impuesto especial a alimentos y bebidas y su impacto en la inflación en México: dinámica, persistencia y cambio de régimen

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. El objetivo de esta investigación es estudiar la fuerza de traslado, la transición y la persistencia del impuesto especial sobre productos y servicios (IEPS) a alimentos y bebidas de densidad energética alta, sobre la tasa de inflación anual de estos alimentos y sobre las bebidas gaseosas, en vigencia desde enero de 2014. Métodos. Se calcularon las tasas de inflación anualizadas para cada alimento y bebida desde enero de 2010 hasta diciembre de 2016 a partir de datos mensuales del índice nacional de precios al consumidor (INPC). Se empleó un modelo de regímenes cambiantes para estimar el impacto del impuesto sobre la dinámica inflacionaria de las bebidas y los alimentos, así como su transición, persistencia y las posibles rupturas. Resultados. La dinámica inflacionaria de los alimentos de contenido calórico alto y las bebidas gaseosas sujetas a impuesto tiene una varianza alta. El impuesto fue trasladado a la inflación de algunos productos de densidad calórica alta de manera gradual, antes de regresar a los niveles inflacionarios previos al impuesto. La continuidad del impuesto no afecta la dinámica inflacionaria de los alimentos a partir de 2015. Conclusiones. El impuesto debe ir acompañado de medidas que faciliten su persistencia y traslado a la dinámica inflacionaria de los productos con impuesto. La recaudación de estos impuestos debe fomentar y facilitar el consumo de alternativas saludables, así como acompañarlo de medidas educativas que modifiquen los hábitos de consumo de manera sostenida en el mediano plazo y el largo plazo.

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. The objective of this research is to study the strength of transfer, the transitions, and the persistence of the special excise tax on products and services (known by its Spanish acronym, IEPS) applicable since January 2014 to high-energy foods and soft drinks, and the effect of the tax on the annual inflation rates for these foods and beverages. Methods. Annual inflation rates for each food and beverage were calculated from January 2010 to December 2016, based on monthly data from the national consumer price index. A model of variable regimes was used to estimate the impact of the tax on the inflationary dynamics of the foods and beverages, as well as its transitions, persistence, and the possible ruptures. Results. There was high variance in the inflationary dynamics of the high-calorie foods and soft drinks subject to the tax. The tax contributed gradually to price inflation for some high-calorie products, before returning to pre-tax inflation levels. The continuity of the tax did not affect the inflationary dynamics of the food after 2015. Conclusions. The tax should be accompanied by measures that facilitate its persistence and transfer to the inflationary dynamics of the taxed products. The taxes collected should be used to promote and facilitate the consumption of healthy alternatives, and this should be accompanied by educational measures aimed at continuing to change consumption habits in the medium and long term.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Estudar a força de transferência, transição e persistência do imposto especial sobre produtos e serviços (IEPS) para alimentos e bebidas de alta densidade calórica na taxa anual de inflação destes alimentos e refrigerantes, em vigor desde janeiro de 2014. Métodos. As taxas anuais de inflação foram calculadas para cada alimento e bebida para o período de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2016 com base em dados mensais do índice nacional de preços ao consumidor (INPC). Um modelo de mudança de regime foi usado para estimar a repercussão do imposto na dinâmica inflacionária de alimentos e bebidas bem como a transição, persistência e possíveis suspensões do imposto. Resultados. A dinâmica inflacionária dos alimentos de alta densidade calórica e de refrigerantes sobre os quais incide o imposto apresenta grande variação. O imposto foi gradualmente transferido à dinâmica inflacionária de alguns produtos de alta densidade calórica e, posteriormente, houve um retorno aos níveis inflacionários anteriores à tributação. A continuidade do imposto não tem influenciado a dinâmica inflacionária dos alimentos desde 2015. Conclusões. O imposto deve vir acompanhado de medidas para facilitar sua persistência e transferência à dinâmica inflacionária dos produtos tributados. A arrecadação destes impostos deve estimular e facilitar o consumo de alternativas de alimentos saudáveis, bem como vir acompanhado de medidas educativas para mudar os hábitos de consumo de forma sustentada a médio e longo prazo.

Perfil de consumo y costo de bebidas habituales y recomendadas en méxico, 2012-2018 / Profile of consumption and cost of usual and recommended drinks in mexico, 2012-2018

El objetivo de este estudio fue medir y comparar el comportamiento inflacionario del costo de las Bebidas Habituales y del costo de la Jarra de Bebidas Recomendada para la población mexicana. Basados en información sobre el consumo de bebidas en adultos (Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición) y de los precios promedio mensuales (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía) para cada bebida durante enero 2012 - Junio 2017, se calcularon los costos del consumo y la inflación de bebidas habitual y recomendado. El costo de las Bebidas Recomendadas es consistentemente mayor que el de las Bebidas Habituales. Las tasas de inflación son similares excepto en 2014 cuando se introdujo el impuesto a las bebidas azucaradas. Se encuentra que los precios y la inflación de las bebidas con azucares añadidos y de las bebidas habituales responden menos que proporcionalmente. Una inflación del costo de las bebidas recomendadas más alta que las habituales puede incrementar la demanda por bebidas habituales. El comportamiento de la inflación revela que el impuesto a bebidas azucaradas puede ser efectivo pero transitorio(AU)

The aim of this study was to measure and compare the inflationary behavior of the Usual Drinks Intake cost and the Recommended Drinks Intake Jar cost for the Mexican population. Based on information about the consumption of drinks in adults (National Health and Nutrition Survey) and of the average monthly prices (National Institute for Statistic and Geography) for each specific drink during January 2012-June 2017, we calculate consumption costs and inflation of usual and recommended drink intakes. The cost of the recommended drinks is consistently higher than the usual drinks cost. Inflation rates are similar in both drink intakes except in 2014, when the tax to sugary drinks was implemented. Prices and inflation of sugary drinks and usual drinks respond less than proportionally. A higher inflation of recommended drink costs compared to the usual drinks inflation could increase the demand for usual drinks. The behavior of inflation reveals that the tax to sugary drinks can be effective, but transitory(AU)

[Index of Nutritional Purchasing Power Parity: comparison of caloric costs of a healthy versus an unhealthy diet]. / Índice de Paridad Poder de Compra Nutricional: comparación de los precios calóricos entre dietas habituales y saludables.

OBJECTIVE: Develop the Index of Nutritional Purchasing Power Parity (Nut3-CiO) as an instrument to compare the caloric costs of a healthy versus an unhealthy diet between regions or cities in a country over time. METHODS: Indices of caloric prices were constructed and the "law of one price" was used to derive the Nut3-CiO index. Caloric inflation rates were obtained using basic descriptive statistics. The Nut3-CiO was applied in the major cities of Mexico during the period from January 1996 to December 2010. RESULTS: The statistical behavior of the Nut3-CiO revealed that, in Mexican cities, products for a typical diet are less expensive than products for a healthy diet. The findings showed a cyclical behavior to the index, a high correlation between inflation for the typical diet and inflation for the market basket, and a high persistence of prices. CONCLUSIONS: The Nut3-CiO index makes it possible to periodically compare the price differential of two types of diets-typical and healthy-between cities in a single country. This instrument could help health authorities identify the cities where it is easier or more difficult for consumers to access a typical or healthy diet in terms of cost. Furthermore, it makes it possible to estimate the percentage adjustment necessary in each city to attain levels of nutritional purchasing power parity.

Índice de Paridad Poder de Compra Nutricional: comparación de los precios calóricos entre dietas habituales y saludables / Index of Nutritional Purchasing Power Parity: comparison of caloric costs of a healthy versus an unhealthy diet

OBJETIVO: Validar el Índice de Paridad Poder de Compra Nutricional (Nut3-CiO) como un instrumento que permite comparar los precios calóricos de una dieta saludable versus una dieta no saludable entre regiones o ciudades de un país a través del tiempo. MÉTODOS: Se construyeron índices de precios calóricos y se empleó la "ley de un solo precio" para derivar el índice Nut3-CiO. Se obtuvieron tasas de inflación calóricas sobre las que se realizó estadística descriptiva básica. El Nut3-CiO se aplicó a las principales ciudades de México durante el período enero de 1996 a diciembre 2010. RESULTADOS: El comportamiento estadístico del Nut3-CiO reveló que en las ciudades de México los productos de la dieta habitual son más baratos que los productos de la dieta saludable. Se observó un comportamiento cíclico del índice, una correlación alta entre la inflación de la dieta habitual y la inflación de la canasta básica, y una alta persistencia de los precios. CONCLUSIONES: El índice Nut3-CiO permite comparar periódicamente el diferencial de precios de dos tipos de dietas -habituales y saludables- entre las ciudades de un mismo país. Este instrumento podría ayudar a las autoridades de salud a identificar las ciudades en donde resulta más -o menos- fácil para los consumidores acceder a una dieta habitual o saludable en términos de costo. Asimismo, hace posible estimar el porcentaje de ajuste que deberían tener los precios relativos en cada ciudad para alcanzar los niveles de paridad poder de compra nutricional.

OBJECTIVE: Develop the Index of Nutritional Purchasing Power Parity (Nut3-CiO) as an instrument to compare the caloric costs of a healthy versus an unhealthy diet between regions or cities in a country over time. METHODS: Indices of caloric prices were constructed and the "law of one price" was used to derive the Nut3-CiO index. Caloric inflation rates were obtained using basic descriptive statistics. The Nut3-CiO was applied in the major cities of Mexico during the period from January 1996 to December 2010. RESULTS: The statistical behavior of the Nut3-CiO revealed that, in Mexican cities, products for a typical diet are less expensive than products for a healthy diet. The findings showed a cyclical behavior to the index, a high correlation between inflation for the typical diet and inflation for the market basket, and a high persistence of prices. CONCLUSIONS: The Nut3-CiO index makes it possible to periodically compare the price differential of two types of diets-typical and healthy-between cities in a single country. This instrument could help health authorities identify the cities where it is easier or more difficult for consumers to access a typical or healthy diet in terms of cost. Furthermore, it makes it possible to estimate the percentage adjustment necessary in each city to attain levels of nutritional purchasing power parity.