Essays in Food Retail Demand

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to examine, model and estimate the importance ofdemand factors that shape the diet quality choices of the U.S. households. In particular,I focus on the low-income households because these households are consumingfood of lower diet quality. Understanding whether and how income is restricting thesehouseholds in their food choices is important for the policy makers. First, I analyzethe importance of the food access in explaining the dierence in diet quality acrossincome. Second, I study the importance of price eects of high nutritional qualityfood for the low-income households. Third, I analyze the dierences in preferencesacross the U.S. cities.