Céline is an INRA researcher who has been a member of the TSE-GREMAQ research centre since studying for her PhD, which she obtained in 2004 under the supervision of Michel Simioni. She then took up a position at the regional INRA research centre (Auzeville, near Toulouse), returning to GREMAQ in 2007 when part of the INRA Agricultural Economics department moved its base to TSE. Over recent years Céline has carried out a series of visiting researcher positions at the University of California (Berkeley), as well as at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (London).

 (1) Why did you choose to work at TSE? 

The decision was collective, alongside my INRA colleagues working in agricultural economics. Our department was somewhat isolated within the regional INRA centre, so coming to TSE brought us closer to other economists and econometricians in order to further our similar research topics.

(2) How would you describe your research to the general public? 

My work aims to improve our understanding of the food industry, with two main focuses: 1) what determines consumer choices linked to food consumption, and 2) how do firms in the industry coordinate and compete amongst themselves. Within the food industry, I have studied these two aspects applied to various markets, including mineral water, soft drinks, coffee, and diary products.

I’m also currently working on the impact of food consumption on health issues, in particular obesity prevalence concerns.

(3) How does this research impact on society? 

My current work on the impact of soft drink taxes on consumption is of particular interest to the French Ministry of Health, who recently introduced such a tax in order to reduce illness rates, within the framework of the national nutrition and health plan (PNNS). The Ministry invited me to present my research assessment of the foreseen measures, and to belong to a special commission in charge of examining the actual impact and efficiency of the tax following its implementation.

Various food industry stakeholders also take an interest in this research, with regard to both consumer choices and competition within the industry. For example, consumer groups are interested in the impact of the tax on the retail price, in order to defend the interests of consumers faced with rising prices. Similarly, manufacturers and retailers need to understand what influences consumer choice, in order to identify how to differentiate their products to continue attracting consumers despite the new tax.

(4) A current or upcoming highlight in your work?

Several of my colleagues and I are involved in a new project[1] financed by the French research agency (ANR) which brings together a network of researchers to study the links between consumption, health and environmental concerns. The overall aim of the project is to build an economic model for sustainable nutrition, and my role is mainly to evaluate the efficiency of public policies designed to meet this objective.

This project will allow me to continue studying the impact of the soft drink tax on health, and also investigate other linked topics such as the health benefits of fruit and vegetable awareness campaigns. We aim to identify the extent to which the different actors of the food chain (manufacturers, retailers, consumers) have a role to play in the knock-on price, competition, and consumption effects of taxes and campaigns that aim to reduce health problems.

5) Football or rugby? 

Football! In fact, until the end of my PhD I played football in the French amateur premier league. My team was league champion several times, and reached the semi-finals of the European champions league. I stopped a few years ago in order to concentrate on work, and also on family, which is very important to me.