Amit Sharma is a professor of hospitality management, Associate Director & PIC of Undergraduate Studies at the School of Hospitality Management, and is the Director of the Food Decisions Research Laboratory at Penn State University. His research focuses on two issues: cost-benefits and economics of food decisions and the economic role of hospitality and tourism activity.
Sharma’s work involves investigating the economics of food decisions, as well as the causes and consequences of food choices, particularly within food service environments. In particular, his research projects focus on the economics of local food systems, food safety, healthy eating among children, food spending among families, and food supply chain analysis.
Additionally, Sharma is interested in the ethical aspects of food access for college and school children, the ethics of tipping during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in understanding how hospitality and tourism’s impact on local and national economies can be maximized through policy and development interventions.
One big reason Americans are broke and overweight
from MarketWatch July 13, 2019
"'What this tells us is that obviously they thought they would spend less in a week, but as the week progressed they realized they were spending a lot more and they rationalized that increase,' says Amit Sharma, associate professor of hospitality management and director of the Food Decisions Research Laboratory, Penn State."
Which restaurants will survive the coronavirus pandemic? The future ‘does not seem to be too bright'
from PennLive June 24, 2020
“I think it will make consumers pause and think about whether this is an experience they want to invest their time and money in or is there an easier alternative?” - Amit Sharma
Food access and insecurity during COVID-19
April 28, 2021
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