Working Paper: NBER ID: w21057
Authors: Hilary W. Hoynes; Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach
Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of the patchwork of U.S. food and nutrition programs, with detailed discussions of SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program), WIC, and the school breakfast and lunch programs. Building on Currie’s (2003) review, we document the history and goals of the programs, and describe the current program rules. We also provide program statistics and how participation and costs have changed over time. The programs vary along how “in-kind” the benefits are, and we describe economic frameworks through which each can be analyzed. We then review the recent research on each program, focusing on studies that employ techniques that can isolate causal impacts. We conclude by highlighting gaps in current knowledge and promising areas for future research.
Keywords: food assistance; nutrition programs; SNAP; WIC; school meals
JEL Codes: H53; I3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| SNAP increases family resources (I38) | SNAP leads to increased food and non-food spending (H53) |
| SNAP reduces food insecurity (H53) | SNAP improves health outcomes at birth (I14) |
| Greater exposure to SNAP in early life (I24) | Better medium- and long-term health outcomes (I14) |
| WIC leads to improvements in health outcomes at birth (I14) | WIC increases average birth weights (I38) |
| WIC leads to improvements in health outcomes at birth (I14) | WIC reduces incidence of low birth weights (I38) |
| NSLP and SBP have positive impacts on dietary intake (H53) | NSLP and SBP improve dietary quality for lower-income students (I24) |
| NSLP and SBP have positive impacts on dietary intake (H53) | NSLP and SBP impact dietary quality (I24) |