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Identifying the Effects of WIC on Food Insecurity Among Infants and Children

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  • Brent Kreider
  • John V. Pepper
  • Manan Roy

Abstract

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is considered a crucial component of the social safety net in the United States, yet there is limited supporting evidence on the effects of WIC on the nutritional well‐being and food security of infants and young children. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we apply recently developed partial identification methods to jointly account for unobserved counterfactual outcomes and systematic underreporting of WIC participation. Under nonparametric assumptions, we find that WIC reduces the prevalence of child food insecurity by at least 3.6 percentage points (20%).

Suggested Citation

  • Brent Kreider & John V. Pepper & Manan Roy, 2016. "Identifying the Effects of WIC on Food Insecurity Among Infants and Children," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 82(4), pages 1106-1122, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:82:y:2016:i:4:p:1106-1122
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12078
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Nobari, Tabashir Z. & Nau, Claudia L. & Crespi, Catherine M. & Koebnick, Corinna & Li, Xia & Whaley, Shannon E. & Wang, May C., 2024. "Linking WIC program and HMO administrative data to study the impact of WIC participation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Laura Tach & Elizabeth Day, 2023. "Better Together? Multiplier and Spillover Effects in Two-Generation Initiatives," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 706(1), pages 193-223, March.
    5. Destiny Treloar & Dorceta E. Taylor & Ashley Bell, 2024. "Understanding Food Insecurity and Participation in Food Assistance Programs among Hispanic/Latino Residents of Hialeah, Florida, before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-52, September.

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