Public Policy Versus Individual Rights and Responsibility: An Economist’s Perspective ► Preventing Chronic Disease: September 2011: 10_0278

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Public Policy Versus Individual Rights and Responsibility: An Economist’s Perspective
Frank J. Chaloupka, PhD

Suggested citation for this article: Chaloupka FJ. Public policy versus individual rights and responsibility: an economist’s perspective. Prev Chronic Dis 2011;8(5):A100. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/sep/10_0278.htm. Accessed [date].

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Abstract

Interventions to reduce childhood obesity entail ethical considerations. Although a rationale exists for government to intervene in a way that limits individual rights while protecting the public’s health, a clear economic rationale also exists. The markets for goods and services that contribute to obesity are characterized by multiple failures that create an economic rationale for government to intervene (eg, consumers’ lack of accurate information regarding obesogenic foods and beverages). If effective public policies for reducing obesity and its consequences are to be developed and implemented, individual rights and government interests must be balanced.


Introduction

As discussed in the diverse set of articles in this issue of Preventing Chronic Disease, substantial ethical considerations are entailed in interventions to reduce childhood obesity (1). Phillips et al (2) succinctly describe ethical concerns related to population-based public policy interventions to curb childhood obesity, focusing on those surrounding Arkansas’ 2003 comprehensive legislation regarding school-based interventions (3). The concerns raised regarding Act 1220 included privacy matters regarding the measurement and reporting of body mass index (BMI) and the time and economic burden the act’s requirements place on schools. However, as Phillips et al describe, a rationale exists for government to intervene in a way that limits individual rights while protecting the public’s health.

Acknowledgments

This article highlights ideas generated and conclusions reached at the Symposium on Ethical Issues in Interventions for Childhood Obesity, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Data for Solutions, Inc.

I acknowledge the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the Bridging the Gap research program.

Author Information

Frank J. Chaloupka, PhD, University of Illinois, 444 Westside Research Office Bldg, 1747 West Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608. Telephone: 312-413-2287. E-mail: fjc@uic.edu
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Políticas públicas frente a responsabilidad y derechos individuales: Perspectiva de un economista
Frank J. Chaloupka, PhD

Citación sugerida para este artículo: Chaloupka FJ. Políticas públicas frente a responsabilidad y derechos individuale: Perspectiva de un economista. Prev Chronic Dis 2011;8(5):A100. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/sept/10_0278_es.htm. Consulta: [fecha].

REVISADO POR EXPERTOS
Resumen

Las intervenciones para reducir la obesidad infantil conllevan consideraciones éticas. Pese a que hay justificación en la intervención del gobierno de manera que limite los derechos individuales en aras de proteger la salud del público, también hay una clara justificación económica. Los mercados de bienes y servicios que contribuyen a la obesidad presentan múltiples fallas que generan una justificación económica para que el gobierno intervenga (p. ej., la falta de información precisa acerca de los alimentos y bebidas obesogénicos). Si se deben diseñar e implementar políticas públicas eficaces para reducir la obesidad y sus consecuencias, debe haber un balance entre los derechos individuales y los intereses del gobierno.