Family Dining, Diet Family Dining, Diet and Food Distribution: and Food Distribution:

Planting the Seeds of Planting the Seeds of

Economic GrowthEconomic Growth Dr. Maria Sophia AguirreDr. Maria Sophia Aguirre

Department of Business and EconomicsDepartment of Business and EconomicsThe Catholic University of AmericaThe Catholic University of America

Second Cross-Culture Dialogue of Family Harmony Second Cross-Culture Dialogue of Family Harmony and Youth Growthand Youth GrowthBeijing UniversityBeijing University

Beijing, May 15-18, 2007Beijing, May 15-18, 2007

Family and the EconomyFamily and the Economy The family plays an important role in the The family plays an important role in the

economyeconomy Production of human, social, and moral capital Resources use, economic activity, and economic structures

The family experienced economic and demographic changes regarding family life and the allocation of time. Decline in family size Increase of single parents Increased maternal employment Increase in childcare use Decline in traditional family activities Decrease in the time spent together by parents and

children Increased concern for children’s skills Nutritional good habits have declined

How Does the Family Fit in the How Does the Family Fit in the Economy?Economy?

Basic Basic ActivitiesActivities

Means Means UsedUsed

Role of the Role of the FamilyFamily

PurposePurpose

ProductionProduction ResourcesResources Human Human CapitalCapital

Basic Basic NeedsNeeds

ExchangeExchange MarketMarket Human, Human, Moral, Moral, Social Social CapitalCapital

ProfitProfit

ConsumptiConsumptionon

OptimizatiOptimization and on and

DistributioDistributionn

AppropriatAppropriate e

distributiodistributionn

WellbeingWellbeing

(welfare)(welfare)

There is a positive correlation between human capital, infrastructure and economic growthhealthy institutions and economic developmenthealth and income per capita

These positive correlations reflect an essential causal link running from human capital tohealthy institutions (social capital) infrastructure and technology

Life expectancy is a significant predictor of economic growth

We know from economic analysis that in economic development

This paper examines

Relation between family dining and human, moral and social capital

The Impact of family dining in the economic activity

This is relevant for both economic policy analysis and design because decisions and actions of households have long-term effects for their development and for economic growth economy

Is family dining relevant for Is family dining relevant for economic growth?economic growth?

The family has a reciprocal relationship The family has a reciprocal relationship with the economic environmentwith the economic environment

The way households spend their time and consume goods indicate value parents place on the attainment of

certain skills and the quality of consumption

value placed on the context for learning

How families allocate their time is in part a function of what is possible and desired given the

economic environment in which the household finds itself.

Family Dining and Family Dining and Households’ Households’ Allocation of Allocation of

TimeTime

Family Dining and Household Family Dining and Household Production ModelsProduction Models

Increases in the cost of time lead to an increase in the relative cost of time

Mothers spend less time cooking and instead purchase meals

Predicts that an increase in time cost causes a change in the methods used to produce commodities but not change in the quality of consumption.

Quality of family meals should not be affected by substituting it by other ways of meeting the food needs

Does not include the interpersonal relational dimension of some consumption activities

Empirical evidence indicates

Quality of the family meal has declined Reduction of frequency Decline in the nutritional value of home meals. Low interpersonal relations among family

members.

Decrease in the quality of meals indicates Family dining is not easily substitutable Time spent together at meal cannot be

substituted by the market Decreases of allocation of time to family meals

indicate they are considered an inferior good. Women have retained primary responsibility for

family food shopping and meal preparations

Family Dining Family Dining and Human and Human

Capital Capital

Empirical evidence across Empirical evidence across sciencescience

Clearly indicates that healthy families are key for sustainable economic growth

Children develop best within a family that is functional, i.e., with a mother and a father in a stable marriage

Men and women also perform best within a stable family

When the family is disrupted, the individual and social costs are very large

Socioeconomic RelevanceSocioeconomic Relevance Academic and social performanceAcademic and social performance of a child is of a child is closely related to the structure of the family in closely related to the structure of the family in which he lives -- important for the quality of which he lives -- important for the quality of human and social capitalhuman and social capital

The The psychological stability and healthpsychological stability and health of a of a child is closely related to healthy families -- child is closely related to healthy families -- important for worker productivity and government important for worker productivity and government financesfinances

Healthy families Healthy families decreases the risk of abuse decreases the risk of abuse or neglector neglect. Parents’ presence . Parents’ presence reduces violence, reduces violence, risk of pregnancy and substance abuserisk of pregnancy and substance abuse in in children -- important for social capital and children -- important for social capital and government financesgovernment finances

Married women have a Married women have a lower rate of lower rate of depression, enjoy higher income and lower depression, enjoy higher income and lower living costs, and have higher savings and living costs, and have higher savings and wealthwealth -- important for human and social capital -- important for human and social capital and government financesand government finances

Percentage of Families that are in Poverty by Family Structure and Ethnicity, 2006

Source: Annual Demographic Survey, Poverty in the U.S.: US Census Bureau, March 2007, Table POVO2.

9

46.4

7.6

26.4 23.7

47.7

21.2

46

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Married Single Married Single Married Single Married Single

White Asian and Pacific Black Hispanic

Percentage of Women who are in Poverty by Family Structure and Ethnicity, 2006

5.9

26

9.7

38.8

16.1

40

0

510

15

2025

30

3540

45

Married Single Married Single Married Single

White Black Hispanic

Source: Annual Demographic Survey, Poverty in the U.S.: US Census Bureau, March 2007, Table POVO2.

Percentage of Children who are in Poverty by Family Structure and Ethnicity, 2006

8.9

41.9

12.6

49.2

20.7

51.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Married Single Married Single Married Single

White Black Hispanic

Source: Annual Demographic Survey, Poverty in the U.S.: US Census Bureau, March 2007, Table POV13.

Divorce vs Female Labor Force Participation

0

1

2

3

4

5

0 20 40 60 80

Labor Force Participation

Div

orc

e

United States

UK Sweden

Japan

Australia

France

Netherlands

Italy

Germany

Source: International Labor Organization.

Developed Countries Welfare Expenditures vs. Developing Countries Debt in 2005

Source: CIA World Handbook, 2007.

1700

867

561

433221

23570140

1634

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Million of Dollars

US

Germany

France

UK

Brazil

Mexico

Nigeria

WE FD

Family Relationships and Its Family Relationships and Its Relation to the Frequency of Relation to the Frequency of

Family DiningFamily Dining(% of Teens)(% of Teens)

Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University.

  

51 48

19

72 69

7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Speak withParents when a

Problem

Parents BuildChildren

Character

Tension at Home

Pe

rce

nta

ge

0 to 2

5 to 7

40% 40%171%

Academic Performance and Its Academic Performance and Its Relation to the Frequency of Relation to the Frequency of

Family DiningFamily Dining(% of Teens Obtaining Mostly A or B Grades in School)(% of Teens Obtaining Mostly A or B Grades in School)

4 5

6 2

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

5 0

6 0

7 0

0 t o 2 5 t o 7

Per

cen

tag

e

Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University.

38%

Substance Abuse and Its Substance Abuse and Its Relation to the Frequency of Relation to the Frequency of

Family DiningFamily Dining(% of Teens Who Have Tried Abuse Substances)(% of Teens Who Have Tried Abuse Substances)

3 4

5 2

3 5

1 4

3 0

1 2 1 3

3 5

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

5 0

6 0

C i g a r e t t e s A l c o h o l M a r i j u a n a M o r e t h a nH a l f o f

F r i e n d s u s ed r u g s

Pe

rce

tag

e

0 t o 2 5 t o 7

Source:National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University.

142%

73%

191% 169%

Quality of Family Dining and Quality of Family Dining and Its Relation to their FrequencyIts Relation to their Frequency

(% of Teens)(% of Teens)

45

3437

29

12 1416

5 7

0

10

20

30

40

50

0 to 2 5 to 7 Overall

Per

cen

tag

e o

f T

ota

l S

amp

le

TV Is Usually On Rush Dinners Lack of Conversations

Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University.

1.3

2.5

3.1

Percentage of Children Whose Percentage of Children Whose Families have Family Dining by Families have Family Dining by

Family StructureFamily Structure(% of children)(% of children)

45

13

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Married Single-Parent

Per

ceta

ge

of

To

tal

sam

ple

Source: Administration for Children and Families, Department of House and Human Services

3.5 timeshigher

Summarizing Frequency of family dining affects

the quality of social and human capital generated in the family

Strengthens the family relations Increases academic performance Helps prevent substance abuse It is not enough for a family to eat

together Quality and the family structure where

the family dinner takes place are important as well

Married couples eat more frequently together

Family Dining Family Dining and Economic and Economic

ActivityActivity

Chinese Famine 1958-Chinese Famine 1958-19611961

Unexpectedly occurred when grain per Unexpectedly occurred when grain per capita had increasedcapita had increased

30 million casualties and 33 million 30 million casualties and 33 million postponed birthspostponed births

Causes thus far put forward are able to Causes thus far put forward are able to explain its magnitude but not how it first explain its magnitude but not how it first started:started:

Bad weatherBad weather Reduction in sown acreageReduction in sown acreage Government’s high grain procurementsGovernment’s high grain procurements Forced collectivizationForced collectivization Bad managementBad management Collapse of incentive mechanismsCollapse of incentive mechanisms

Communal Dining HallsCommunal Dining Halls 1958 Mao and Party created 2.65 million.1958 Mao and Party created 2.65 million.

Private kitchens were destroyed.Private kitchens were destroyed.

Peasants’ private food stocks were Peasants’ private food stocks were collectivized.collectivized.

Cooking woks and pots were collected Cooking woks and pots were collected and melted down to serve as iron or steal.and melted down to serve as iron or steal.

Free food was provided and food products Free food was provided and food products were channeled directly unto dining were channeled directly unto dining halls.halls.

““Open your stomach, eat as much as you Open your stomach, eat as much as you wish, and work hard for socialism.”wish, and work hard for socialism.”

ConsequencesConsequences Overcomsumption Overcomsumption ( a six month supply was ( a six month supply was

depleted in three months)depleted in three months)

Inefficient use of resourcesInefficient use of resources Leftovers thrown awayLeftovers thrown away Wasted food in the process of transfers from Wasted food in the process of transfers from

storage to cooking due to neglect or poor storage to cooking due to neglect or poor managementmanagement

By the end of 1958 By the end of 1958 food shortage/starvationfood shortage/starvation

Mao refused to reverse this policy until the mid Mao refused to reverse this policy until the mid of 1961of 1961

At the time most At the time most farmers chose to return to farmers chose to return to home dininghome dining

By the end of 1961, famine was ended in six By the end of 1961, famine was ended in six monthsmonths

Number of Deaths by Percentage Number of Deaths by Percentage of Population Use of of Population Use of

Communal Dining HallsCommunal Dining Halls 8192

12891003

335999

1978

7411318379

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

23 26.5 29.4 29.9 90.5 92.6 96.5 97.6 97.8 96.7

Percentage of Communal Dinning Halls Used

Nu

meb

r o

f D

eath

s

Source: Chang and Wen (1997), Table 5.

Low use High use

China late 1990s-2006China late 1990s-2006 Children consumption in cities higher than that Children consumption in cities higher than that

of adultsof adults..

Parents provide to children their food wishes but Parents provide to children their food wishes but no balance dietno balance diet..

Family meals have been replaced by milk, Family meals have been replaced by milk, cookies, cold drinks, or health supplements cookies, cold drinks, or health supplements children do not needchildren do not need..

Children experiencing many health digesting Children experiencing many health digesting problemsproblems..

Forecast show Chinese families can’t support Forecast show Chinese families can’t support pattern of consumption and therefore standard pattern of consumption and therefore standard of living for parents are fallingof living for parents are falling..

Negative human and social capital effectsNegative human and social capital effects..

Government levelGovernment level Multiple tools available: taxes, education, Multiple tools available: taxes, education,

health care, homeownership, and work health care, homeownership, and work participation policies. participation policies.

Three issues to address: working hours, after Three issues to address: working hours, after school activities, and long commutes. school activities, and long commutes.

Work and school activities: revision of Work and school activities: revision of structure itself. structure itself. Long working hours and short school hours combined Long working hours and short school hours combined

with a myriad of extra curriculum activities are not with a myriad of extra curriculum activities are not conducive to frequent family dinners. conducive to frequent family dinners.

Change in paradigm required: address the Change in paradigm required: address the needs of the family as a unit and not the needs needs of the family as a unit and not the needs of each of its members independently of each of each of its members independently of each other. other.

Time should be crucial component of public Time should be crucial component of public projects involving time savings, mostly projects involving time savings, mostly transportation.transportation.

Private SectorPrivate Sector Businesses need to respond to the Businesses need to respond to the

need of strengthening the family. need of strengthening the family.

Length of the workday as well as its Length of the workday as well as its structure requires immediate structure requires immediate attention. attention.

Some initiatives include:Some initiatives include: systems of flexible working hours for systems of flexible working hours for

men and womenmen and women work sharingwork sharing provision of facilities so to allow provision of facilities so to allow

parents, especially mothers, to work parents, especially mothers, to work from their home some days of the week. from their home some days of the week.

Individual LevelIndividual Level Education and information regarding the Education and information regarding the

importance of frequent family dinners, their importance of frequent family dinners, their role in the creation and growth of human role in the creation and growth of human capital, as well as the normal development of capital, as well as the normal development of children children

Only in this manner the allocation of time will Only in this manner the allocation of time will be optimal in this areabe optimal in this area

Mothers have a special role: generally it is she Mothers have a special role: generally it is she who has primary responsibility for the who has primary responsibility for the performance of household tasks, especially in performance of household tasks, especially in the area of food shopping and meals the area of food shopping and meals preparation, even though she might work also preparation, even though she might work also outside her homeoutside her home

Distribution within the family is usually Distribution within the family is usually carried out through the womencarried out through the women

Conclusions Conclusions

We sought to establish the We sought to establish the relevance of family dining for relevance of family dining for economic growth.economic growth.

Relationship with the allocation of Relationship with the allocation of time.time.

Relationship between family dining Relationship between family dining and human, social, and moral capital.and human, social, and moral capital.

Relationship with consumptionRelationship with consumption

Frequent family dining affects positively Frequent family dining affects positively food and economic activityfood and economic activity

Efficiency of distribution and consumption of Efficiency of distribution and consumption of food.food.

Affects intertemporal dimension of Affects intertemporal dimension of consumptionconsumption

Frequency in family dining is higher in Frequency in family dining is higher in stable families, i.e., within marriage.stable families, i.e., within marriage.

Not enough to seek the implementation of Not enough to seek the implementation of remedial polices, i.e. attend dysfunctional remedial polices, i.e. attend dysfunctional situations. situations.

Frequent family dinners need to be facilitated Frequent family dinners need to be facilitated through friendly family policies in all sectors through friendly family policies in all sectors of society. of society.

““Many of today’s human, social, and moral Many of today’s human, social, and moral capital problems are not going to be resolved capital problems are not going to be resolved in court rooms, legislative hearing rooms or in court rooms, legislative hearing rooms or classrooms, by judges, politicians, or teachers.classrooms, by judges, politicians, or teachers.

Rather it will be solved in living rooms, dining Rather it will be solved in living rooms, dining rooms, and across kitchen tables – by parents rooms, and across kitchen tables – by parents and families”and families”

Frequent family dinners are one of the Frequent family dinners are one of the simplest; most effective and important aspects simplest; most effective and important aspects of family life where the engagement between of family life where the engagement between parents and children takes place and strong parents and children takes place and strong tides developtides develop

This sustains economic growthThis sustains economic growth