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Do Targeted Vouchers Instill Habits? Evidence From Women, Infants, And Children

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  • David Frisvold
  • Emily Leslie
  • Joseph P. Price

Abstract

We examine whether programs that provide vouchers to households continue to influence behavior after the household leaves the program. Using detailed scanner data, we test whether benefit vouchers received through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) change household purchasing decisions and whether these changes persist even after households are no longer eligible to participate in the program. In 2009, the package of goods available through WIC vouchers changed. Examining variation due to this package change, we show that the WIC vouchers change purchasing decisions during eligibility, but that effects fade after eligibility ends. (JEL I38, I18, J13)

Suggested Citation

  • David Frisvold & Emily Leslie & Joseph P. Price, 2020. "Do Targeted Vouchers Instill Habits? Evidence From Women, Infants, And Children," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 38(1), pages 67-80, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:38:y:2020:i:1:p:67-80
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. List, John A. & Samek, Anya Savikhin, 2015. "The behavioralist as nutritionist: Leveraging behavioral economics to improve child food choice and consumption," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 135-146.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Shaonan & Zhen, Chen, 2022. "The Impact of the 2009 WIC Food Package Revision on Participants’ Food and Beverage Purchases," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322390, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Travis A. Smith & Pourya Valizadeh, 2024. "Aging out of WIC and child nutrition: Evidence from a regression discontinuity design," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 106(2), pages 904-924, March.
    3. Marit Hinnosaar, 2023. "The Persistence of Healthy Behaviors in Food Purchasing," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(3), pages 521-537, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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