Users versus nonusers of supplements: socioeconomic characteristics

The objective of this research was to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of supplement users versus nonusers. Seven western states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming) were surveyed to determine the socioeconomic profile of persons who either use or do not use supplements. Results indicated that 60.2% of the supplement users were female. The largest percentage was 31–40 years of age. By most definitions, supplement users tended to be well educated. Under adverse economic conditions, only a small percentage (7%) of users would give up supplements first when asked to choose from a variety of items that were considered to be nonessential.     

Vitamin supplementation practices: health/nutrition education implications

A sample of 310 supplement users, 216 nonsupplement users and 247 inconsistent (user/nonuser) supplementers were followed for 18 months to examine the consistency of supplementation. Since supplementation is often not required for a healthy diet, factors associated with persistence or stability of supplement use have implications for appropriate health/nutrition education. Consistent supplementation (at least 18 months' duration) was associated (P < 0·01) with (i) female sex, (ii) health beliefs in the efficacy of supplementation, (iii) seeking health information from physicians, nurses, dietitians and nutritionists, (iv) using periodicals, TV/radio and books for sources of nutrition information, (v) older age, (vi) higher income and (vii) higher levels of education. Nonusers were more likely to attribute health to chance on the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale, and inconsistent users were more likely to have experienced a change in employment status, relocation to another town/city and a higher number of ‘change’ events in the previous 18 months. Based on the characteristics of the consistent supplement user, ‘academic controversy’ may be an effective educational strategy to employ, if changes in supplementation attitudes and beliefs are desired.     

ATTITUDES TOWARD RISK AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL LOANS

We explore the relationship between willingness to take financial risk and the probability of taking out a loan for educational purposes as well as the influence of risk attitudes on the size of the loan using data drawn from the U.S. Survey of Consumer Finances. The findings suggest a positive relationship between individuals' willingness to take financial risk and the probability of taking out a loan for educational purposes. Similarly, individuals' willingness to take financial risk appears to have an important relationship with the size of the educational loan. The findings suggest that non‐white individuals and females are less likely to finance education through loans which could potentially increase inequalities in education and income if such individuals are deterred from investing in human capital. (JEL I22, I23)     

How Labourers Fare in Fresh Fruit Export Industries: Lemon Production in Northern Argentina

Horticultural export industries have been acclaimed as promoting employment and growth. Critics, however, contend that most of the jobs created are low wage jobs. This article examines whether field labourers fared better than previously in a well positioned, producer-driven, innovative horticultural export industry. Our findings indicate that workers initially fared badly and we identify the strategies used to cap wages. Real wages and seasonal incomes increased significantly from 2002, but only after producers were pressured by government and the union regained political power. Contrary to expectation, escalating consumer demands for high-quality healthy fruit and responsible agronomic practices contributed to producers' response to the union's demands. We argue that the monitoring technologies and practices required by buyers allowed large producers to gain greater information about the role of field labourers in the production process and the transaction costs associated with unreliable, poorly trained occasional harvesters. Nevertheless, even after real wages rose, only few harvesting families managed to escape poverty at the height of the season.