The Caloric Costs of Culture: Evidence from Indian Migrants
研究印度跨邦移民是否因保留原籍地饮食偏好而减少热量摄入，发现移民每卢比食品支出获得的热量低于本地人，若拥有邻居的偏好可多摄入7%热量。
Anthropologists have documented substantial and persistent differences in food preferences across social groups. My paper asks whether such food cultures can constrain caloric intake? I first document that interstate migrants within India consume fewer calories per rupee of food expenditure compared to their neighbors. Second, I show that migrants bring their origin-state food preferences with them. Third, I link these findings by showing that the gap in caloric intake between locals and migrants depends on the suitability and intensity of the migrants' origin-state preferences. The most affected migrants would consume seven percent more calories if they possessed their neighbors' preferences.