Local Food Prices, SNAP Purchasing Power, and Child Health
AREC Seminar Series
| When |
May 01, 2018
from 03:30 PM to 05:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | Symons Hall, Room 3121 |
| Contact Name | Mary Zaki |
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Hilary Hoynes, Professor of Public Policy and Economics, Haas Distinguished Chair in Economic Disparities, UC Berkeley
Paper: Local Food Prices, SNAP Purchasing Power, and Child Health
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) is one of the most important elements of the social safety net. Unlike most other safety net programs, SNAP varies little across states and over time, which creates challenges for quasi-experimental evaluation. Notably, SNAP benefits are fixed across 48 states; but local food prices vary, leading to geographic variation in the real value of SNAP benefits. In this study, we provide the first estimates that leverage variation in the real value of SNAP benefits across markets to examine effects of SNAP on child health. We link panel data on regional food prices to National Health Interview Survey data and use a fixed effects framework to estimate the relationship between local purchasing power of SNAP and children’s health and health care utilization. We find that children in market regions with lower SNAP purchasing power utilize less preventive health care. Lower real SNAP benefits also lead to an increase in school absences. We find no effect on reported health status.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) is one of the most important elements of the social safety net. Unlike most other safety net programs, SNAP varies little across states and over time, which creates challenges for quasi-experimental evaluation. Notably, SNAP benefits are fixed across 48 states; but local food prices vary, leading to geographic variation in the real value of SNAP benefits. In this study, we provide the first estimates that leverage variation in the real value of SNAP benefits across markets to examine effects of SNAP on child health. We link panel data on regional food prices to National Health Interview Survey data and use a fixed effects framework to estimate the relationship between local purchasing power of SNAP and children’s health and health care utilization. We find that children in market regions with lower SNAP purchasing power utilize less preventive health care. Lower real SNAP benefits also lead to an increase in school absences. We find no effect on reported health status.
Date, Time, Location: Tuesday, May 1st, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., Symons Hall, Room 3121
Hosted by: Mary Zaki, MPRC Faculty Associate