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US states' racial bias correlates with less SNAP participation by “undeserving poor” adults and lower unemployment benefit maximums

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  • Lonnie R. Snowden

Abstract

The present study assessed whether Whites' anti‐African American bias correlates with states placing greater emphasis on work incentives in two government assistance programs. The study regressed the representation of “able‐bodied adults without dependents” in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP, also known as food stamps) and maximum unemployment benefits on White residents' implicit and explicit bias, while controlling for key economic and sociopolitical covariates. Findings indicate that states with greater bias had proportionally fewer SNAP‐designated “Able‐Bodied Adults Without Dependents” and states with greater implicit and explicit bias had lower unemployment benefit maximums. Due to Whites' anti‐African American bias, persons of all races and ethnicities who otherwise might benefit from public assistance are exposed to food insecurity and lesser financial support when unemployed. 本研究评估了白人的反非裔美国人偏见是否与“各州在两个政府援助计划中更加重视工作激励”相关。本研究使用回归分析,分析了补充营养援助计划(SNAP,也称为食品券)和失业救济金这两项政府援助计划中关于“没有受抚养人的健全成年人”的代表、白人居民的隐性和显性偏见,同时控制了关键的经济协变量和社会政治协变量。分析结果表明,SNAP指定的“没有受抚养人的健全成年人”数量在偏见较大的州中成比例的更少,而隐性和显性偏见较大的州中失业救济金的最高限额更低。由于白人的反非裔美国人偏见,原本可能受益于公共援助的所有种族和族裔在失业时都会面临粮食不安全和较少的经济支持。 El presente estudio evaluó si el sesgo antiafroamericano de los blancos se correlaciona con los estados que ponen mayor énfasis en los incentivos laborales en dos programas de asistencia del gobierno. El estudio retrocedió, sobre la representación de "adultos sanos sin dependientes" en los Programas de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP, también conocidos como cupones de alimentos) y los beneficios de desempleo, el sesgo implícito y explícito de los residentes blancos, mientras controlaba las covariables económicas y sociopolíticas clave. Los hallazgos indican que los estados con mayor sesgo tenían proporcionalmente menos "adultos sanos sin dependientes" designados por SNAP y los estados con mayor sesgo implícito y explícito tenían máximos de beneficios de desempleo más bajos. Debido al sesgo antiafroamericano de los blancos, las personas de todas las razas y etnias que de otro modo podrían beneficiarse de la asistencia pública están expuestas a la inseguridad alimentaria y a un menor apoyo financiero cuando están desempleadas.

Suggested Citation

  • Lonnie R. Snowden, 2023. "US states' racial bias correlates with less SNAP participation by “undeserving poor” adults and lower unemployment benefit maximums," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 133-149, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:povpop:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:133-149
    DOI: 10.1002/pop4.371
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