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The effects of lump-sum food benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic on spending, hardship, and health

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  • Bauer, Lauren
  • Ruffini, Krista
  • Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore

Abstract

This paper examines how providing families with lump-sum in-kind assistance during the pandemic affected food hardship, economic well-being, and maternal health. We study the introduction of a new program, P-EBT, that provided grocery vouchers worth approximately $300 per student during spring and summer 2020. Using cross-state variation in program timing, we find that families spent $18–42 per student per week in the 6 weeks after benefit receipt. Household food insufficiency and children’s food insecurity among low-income families declined by 27–49 % in the month following receipt, and maternal mental health improved by 0.9 standard deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bauer, Lauren & Ruffini, Krista & Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore, 2024. "The effects of lump-sum food benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic on spending, hardship, and health," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:240:y:2024:i:c:s0047272724002056
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105269
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nutritional assistance; School meals; In-kind benefits;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • 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
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs

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