Retailer Experiences with the SSB Tax in Philadelphia
Beth collaborated with fellow anthropologist Anastasia Hudgins (together as Ethnologica) and researchers from Philadelphia Department of Public Health, John Hopkins, Harvard, and University of Pennsylvania to investigate the impact of the sugar sweetened beverage tax on retailers in Philadelphia. They conducted in-depth interviews with corner stores owners and food retailers throughout Philadelphia to provide policy recommendations to other cities considering similar legislation.
In a peer-reviewed article published with Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, Research, they detail retailer concerns to inform the framing and implementation of beverage taxes in other interested jurisdictions. Retailers especially desired transparency in governmental tax revenue spending. They argue that increased investment in educational outreach to retailers about the tax may help address misconceptions and improve implementation.