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The Effect of SNAP on the Composition of Purchased Foods: Evidence and Implications

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  • Justine S. Hastings
  • Ryan E. Kessler
  • Jesse M. Shapiro

Abstract

We use detailed data from a large retail panel to study the effect of participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the composition and nutrient content of foods purchased for at-home consumption. We find that the effect of SNAP participation is small relative to the cross-sectional variation in most of the outcomes we consider. Estimates from a model relating the composition of a household’s food purchases to the household’s current level of food spending imply that closing the gap in food spending between high- and low-SES households would not close the gap in summary measures of food healthfulness.

Suggested Citation

  • Justine S. Hastings & Ryan E. Kessler & Jesse M. Shapiro, 2019. "The Effect of SNAP on the Composition of Purchased Foods: Evidence and Implications," NBER Working Papers 25953, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25953
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    Cited by:

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    4. Joel Cuffey & Timothy K. M. Beatty, 2022. "Effects of competing food desert policies on store format choice among SNAP participants," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1485-1511, August.
    5. Lisa A. Gennetian & Greg Duncan & Nathan A. Fox & Katherine Magnuson & Sarah Halpern-Meekin & Kimberly G. Noble & Hirokazu Yoshikawa, 2022. "Unconditional Cash and Family Investments in Infants: Evidence from a Large-Scale Cash Transfer Experiment in the U.S," NBER Working Papers 30379, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Simon Freyaldenhoven & Christian Hansen & Jorge Pérez Pérez & Jesse M. Shapiro, 2021. "Visualization, Identification, and Estimation in the Linear Panel Event-Study Design," NBER Working Papers 29170, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Koski, Heli & Kuikkaniemi, Kai & Pantzar, Mika, 2023. "Do Grocery Feedback Systems Enabling Access to Past Consumption Impact Individual Food Purchase Behavior?," ETLA Working Papers 103, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    8. Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore, 2023. "Understanding SNAP: An overview of recent research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Lin, Xirong, 2023. "Food demand and cash transfers: A collective household approach with Homescan data," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 233-259.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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