A healthy school lunch that is $0.75 more than the current lunch has a higher economic
Answer (2)
A healthy school lunch costing $0.75 more likely has a higher economic impact due to benefits like improved student health, better academic performance, and increased future earnings, which outweigh the cost. The investment leads to long-term savings in healthcare and educational outcomes. Thus, a healthier lunch can provide significant returns to the community's economy.
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A healthy school lunch costs $0.75 more than the current lunch.
Improved student health leads to reduced healthcare costs.
Improved academic performance can increase future earnings.
The benefits of a healthy lunch outweigh the costs, resulting in a higher economic impact: True .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to analyze the economic impact of a healthy school lunch that costs $0.75 more than the current lunch. This involves considering various factors such as improved student health, academic performance, and future earnings, and comparing these benefits with the increased cost of the healthier lunch.
Defining Variables and the Given Condition Let's define the variables:
C = cost of the current lunch
H = cost of the healthy lunch
We know that H = C + 0.75 . The problem states that the healthy lunch has a 'higher economic' impact, which implies that the benefits outweigh the costs.
Identifying Economic Factors To determine the economic impact, we need to consider several factors:
Improved Student Health: Healthier lunches can lead to fewer sick days, reducing healthcare costs for families and the school district.
Improved Academic Performance: Better nutrition can improve concentration and cognitive function, leading to better grades and test scores.
Increased Future Earnings: Improved academic performance can lead to higher educational attainment and, consequently, increased future earnings.
Cost of Implementation: The additional cost of $0.75 per lunch needs to be considered.
Determining the Economic Impact The question is qualitative, asking whether a healthier lunch has a 'higher economic' impact. Based on the factors discussed, a healthier lunch can lead to significant economic benefits that potentially outweigh the additional cost of $0.75. These benefits include reduced healthcare costs, improved academic performance, and increased future earnings. Therefore, the statement is likely true.
Conclusion The healthy school lunch has a higher economic impact because the potential benefits (improved health, better academic performance, and increased future earnings) outweigh the additional cost of $0.75 per lunch.
Examples
Consider a school district where providing healthy lunches improves student attendance by 2% and raises test scores by 5%. This could lead to a reduction in healthcare costs and increased future earnings for the students. By investing an extra $0.75 per lunch, the school district can create a healthier and more productive learning environment, ultimately benefiting the community's economy. This demonstrates how a small investment in nutrition can yield significant long-term economic returns. The cost-benefit analysis involves comparing the initial investment in healthier lunches with the projected savings in healthcare and the potential increase in future earnings, ensuring that the benefits justify the costs.
