The Effect of SNAP on the Composition of Purchased Foods: Evidence and Implications
Keyword(s):
Low Ses
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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. (JEL D12, H75, I12, I18, L66)
Keyword(s):
2018 ◽
Vol 21
(9)
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pp. 1639-1648
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Keyword(s):
2021 ◽
Vol 5
(Supplement_2)
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pp. 1084-1084
Keyword(s):