Policy Progress in Using Economic Policy Instruments to Improve Nutrition: Challenges and Opportunities

Economic policy can be a powerful instrument to influence food environments and support improved diets and health. Over the past 20 years, the use of fiscal policy to improve diets has increased dramatically. This paper reviews the trajectory of policy change, and explores the ways in which research has informed three different dimensions of economic policy change in relation to nutrition: policy paradigms, policy instruments and policy settings. The increasing use of fiscal policy contrasts to more limited use of other economic policy instruments, including trade policy, to shape food environments for improved nutrition. Insights from the case studies explored in this paper indicate the important role of research in supporting policy change, including through generating evidence that speaks to sectoral needs and priorities, which can enable policy makers to identify and support potential synergies, as well as providing evidence from real-world evaluations of policy measures. The case studies also highlight the importance of constructive engagement between nutrition and economic policy makers. Finally, the paper identifies three considerations for research moving forward related to policy innovation, knowledge equity, and gender.