Journal article
Unemployment claims in Philadelphia one year after implementation of the sweetened beverage tax
PloS one, v 14(3), pp e0213218-e0213218
27 Mar 2019
PMID: 30917140
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Possible adverse economic impacts of sweetened drink taxes are a key concern for numerous stakeholders. This study examined changes in unemployment benefit claims filings in Philadelphia compared to its neighboring counties two years prior to and 14 months post implementation of a 1.5 cents per ounce excise tax on sugar- and artificially-sweetened beverages.
Data were obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. Interrupted time series analysis was used to determine if there was a change in new monthly unemployment claims filings post-tax implementation in Philadelphia compared to surrounding counties in supermarkets, select potentially affected industries, and in total claims filings across all industries combined.
Results showed there were no statistically significant changes to unemployment claims in Philadelphia compared to neighboring counties for supermarkets (ß = -9.45, 95% CI = -98.11, 79.22), soft drink manufacturers (ß = -0.13, 95% CI = -9.13, 8.88), across other potentially affected industries (ß = 9.16, 95% CI = -488.29, 506.60), or across all industries (ß = -445.85, 95% CI = -4272.39, 3380.68) following implementation of the beverage tax. Unemployment declined similarly in Philadelphia compared to surrounding counties.
Public reports of increased unemployment within the first year following the implementation of the Philadelphia beverage tax are not supported by this analysis. Future work should examine employment outcomes and include longer follow-up periods.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Unemployment claims in Philadelphia one year after implementation of the sweetened beverage tax
- Creators
- Hannah G Lawman - Philadelphia Department of Public HealthSara N Bleich - Harvard UniversityJiali Yan - University of PennsylvaniaMichael T LeVasseur - University of PennsylvaniaNandita Mitra - University of PennsylvaniaChristina A Roberto - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- PloS one, v 14(3), pp e0213218-e0213218
- Publisher
- Public LIbrary of Science (PLOS)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000462465800022
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85063580354
- Other Identifier
- 991021448032904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health