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Mothers as insurance: Family spillovers in WIC

Author

Listed:
  • Bitler, Marianne
  • Currie, Janet
  • Hoynes, Hilary
  • Ruffini, Krista
  • Schulkind, Lisa
  • Willage, Barton

Abstract

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a widely used program. Previous research shows that WIC improves birth outcomes, but evidence about impacts on older children and their families is limited. We use a regression discontinuity leveraging a loss of benefits at age five when children become ineligible for WIC and examine nutritional and laboratory outcomes for adults and children. We find little impact on children who aged out of the program. But caloric intake falls and food insecurity increases among adult women, suggesting that mothers protect children by consuming less themselves. We find no effect on others in the household.

Suggested Citation

  • Bitler, Marianne & Currie, Janet & Hoynes, Hilary & Ruffini, Krista & Schulkind, Lisa & Willage, Barton, 2023. "Mothers as insurance: Family spillovers in WIC," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:91:y:2023:i:c:s0167629623000619
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102784
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    Keywords

    WIC; spillovers; child nutrition and health; maternal responses;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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