Replication Files for "Slow Traffic, Fast Food: The Effects of Time Lost on Food Store Choice"
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Panka Bencsik, Vanderbilt University; Lester Lusher, University of Pittsburgh; Rebecca Taylor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Version: View help for Version V3
| Name | File Type | Size | Last Modified |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReplicationCode | 12/20/2024 11:44:AM |
Project Citation:
Bencsik, Panka, Lusher, Lester, and Taylor, Rebecca. Replication Files for “Slow Traffic, Fast Food: The Effects of Time Lost on Food Store Choice.” Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-01-02. https://doi.org/10.3886/E213861V3
Project Description
Summary:
View help for Summary
Time scarcity is one of the strongest correlates of fast food consumption. To estimate the causal effect of time lost on food choice, we match daily store-specific foot traffic data traced via smartphones to plausibly exogenous shocks in highway traffic congestion in Los Angeles County. We find that on days when highways are more congested, individuals are more likely to frequent fast food restaurants and less likely to grocery shop. In our main model, a one standard deviation increase in traffic delay leads to a 1% increase in fast food visits, equivalent to 1.2 million more fast food visits in Los Angeles County per year. The effects are particularly pronounced for afternoon rush hour traffic. Our results imply a net reduction in healthy food store choice due to time lost.
Scope of Project
Subject Terms:
View help for Subject Terms
traffic congestion;
time constraints;
store choice;
nutrition;
fast food
Geographic Coverage:
View help for Geographic Coverage
Los Angeles County
Time Period(s):
View help for Time Period(s)
1/1/2017 – 12/31/2020
Related Publications
Published Versions
Report a Problem
Found a serious problem with the data, such as disclosure risk or copyrighted content? Let us know.
This material is distributed exactly as it arrived from the data depositor. ICPSR has not checked or processed this material. Users should consult the investigator(s) if further information is desired.