It seems like this study is drawing parallels between trans fat bans in developed countries and hypothetical trans fat bans in low or middle income countries; but governance in these countries ca n look quite different. For example, it’s possible that trans fat bans’ effectiveness would be offset somewhat through bribes to corrupt officials, or just that generally increasing government budgets to enforce the bans could result in patronage that entrenches poor-performing governments.
Have you thought about these potential offsetting impacts or if there is any information on if or to what degree they materialize in practice?
Corruption will theoretically be a problem, though I’m not sure how much in practice it will affect enforcement of trans fat bans specifically. In general, I would be more concerned about the lack of state capacity (i.e. even if governments made an honest effort, they just don’t have the resources to detect and punish transgressors).
My intention is to develop our modelling further in the intermediate research stage, to look at the chances of enforcement failure—you’re right that what’s achieved in the rich world is but an imperfect indication of what will happen when a law is tried in LMICs.
It seems like this study is drawing parallels between trans fat bans in developed countries and hypothetical trans fat bans in low or middle income countries; but governance in these countries ca n look quite different. For example, it’s possible that trans fat bans’ effectiveness would be offset somewhat through bribes to corrupt officials, or just that generally increasing government budgets to enforce the bans could result in patronage that entrenches poor-performing governments.
Have you thought about these potential offsetting impacts or if there is any information on if or to what degree they materialize in practice?
Corruption will theoretically be a problem, though I’m not sure how much in practice it will affect enforcement of trans fat bans specifically. In general, I would be more concerned about the lack of state capacity (i.e. even if governments made an honest effort, they just don’t have the resources to detect and punish transgressors).
My intention is to develop our modelling further in the intermediate research stage, to look at the chances of enforcement failure—you’re right that what’s achieved in the rich world is but an imperfect indication of what will happen when a law is tried in LMICs.