Fluoride-treated water and the problem of merit goods

What is it about?

This study inquires into fluoride treatment of community water in the United States to determine why and how conflicts in the production, consumption, and distribution of merit goods arise and are resolved. Primary and secondary data were employed to analyze statewide and municipality-level fluoridation initiatives in one key “battleground” state (New Jersey).

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Why is it important?

The accessibility and social desirability of merit goods, like fluoridated water, cannot be considered as value-free choices. How consumer demand is expressed, how fluoridation costs and benefits are estimated, how conflicts over its provision and production are resolved, and how the merits of science-based policies can be equally recast in terms of their presumed demerits require serious attention on the part of decision-makers in formulating and implementing health promotion policies.