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The Allocation of Food to Food Banks

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  • Canice Prendergast

Abstract

Feeding America allocates donated food to over 200 food banks. In 2005, it transitioned from a queueing mechanism to one where food banks use a specialized currency to bid for food. Food banks chose very different food than they received before. Small food banks acquired 72% more pounds per client than large food banks at little nutritional cost. This reallocation of food is estimated to have increased its value by 21%, or $115 million per annum. Food banks also sourced food much closer, saving an additional $16 million per annum. Finally, donations of food rose by over 100 million pounds.

Suggested Citation

  • Canice Prendergast, 2022. "The Allocation of Food to Food Banks," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(8), pages 1993-2017.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/720332
    DOI: 10.1086/720332
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    Cited by:

    1. Byrne, Anne T. & Just, David R., 2022. "Review: Private food assistance in high income countries: A guide for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Xiaoshuai Fan & Ying‐Ju Chen & Christopher S. Tang, 2023. "Allocating scarce resources in the presence of private information and heterogeneous favoritism," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 32(7), pages 2068-2086, July.
    3. Ezzat Elokda & Heinrich Nax & Saverio Bolognani & Florian Dorfler, 2024. "Karma: An Experimental Study," Papers 2404.02687, arXiv.org.
    4. Damien Berriaud & Ezzat Elokda & Devansh Jalota & Emilio Frazzoli & Marco Pavone & Florian Dorfler, 2024. "To Spend or to Gain: Online Learning in Repeated Karma Auctions," Papers 2403.04057, arXiv.org.
    5. Shengwu Li, 2024. "Designing Simple Mechanisms," Papers 2403.18694, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2024.
    6. Shivam Gupta & Wei Chen & Milind Dawande & Ganesh Janakiraman, 2023. "Three Years, Two Papers, One Course Off: Optimal Nonmonetary Reward Policies," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(5), pages 2852-2869, May.

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