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How Economic Conditions Affect Participation in USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs

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  • Hanson, Kenneth
  • Oliveira, Victor

Abstract

This study, based on 1976-2010 data, examines the relationship between U.S. economic conditions and participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s five largest nutrition assistance programs. It also describes how changes in program policy and other factors may have influenced this relationship. The five programs are: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Although SNAP’s reputation as one of the Nation’s primary counter-cyclical assistance programs—expanding during economic downturns and contracting during periods of economic growth—is well established, there has been little analysis of the effect of the economy on the other programs. The results of this study strongly suggest that, to varying degrees, economic conditions influence participation in all the major nutrition assistance programs, not just in SNAP.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanson, Kenneth & Oliveira, Victor, 2012. "How Economic Conditions Affect Participation in USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs," Economic Information Bulletin 134682, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersib:134682
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.134682
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hanson, Kenneth & Oliveira, Victor, 2007. "The 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes' Effect On Food Stamp Program Caseloads And Benefits Issued," Economic Research Report 7259, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Jacob Alex Klerman & Caroline Danielson, 2011. "The transformation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 863-888, September.
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    4. Swann Christopher A, 2010. "WIC Eligibility and Participation: The Roles of Changing Policies, Economic Conditions, and Demographics," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 1-37, March.
    5. Mabli, James & Martin, Emily Sama & Castner, Laura, 2009. "Effects of Economic Conditions and Program Policy on State Food Stamp Program Caseloads, 2000 to 2006," Contractor and Cooperator Reports 292076, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    8. James Mabli & Emily Sama Martin & Laura Castner, "undated". "Effects of Economic Conditions and Program Policy on State Food Stamp Program Caseloads, 2000 to 2006," Mathematica Policy Research Reports ec950dbf29b04dca965ac615e, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    11. Oliveira, Victor, 2011. "Food Assistance Landscape: FY 2010 Annual Report," Economic Information Bulletin 291949, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    12. Hanson, Kenneth & Gundersen, Craig, 2002. "Issues In Food Assistance - How Unemployment Affects The Food Stamp Program," Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Reports 262257, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    Cited by:

    1. Suttles, Shellye & Babb, Angela & Knudsen, Daniel C., 2024. "Submitted and Denied: Understanding variation in case status across Supplemental Nutrition assistance program (SNAP) applications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    2. Peter Ganong & Jeffrey B. Liebman, 2018. "The Decline, Rebound, and Further Rise in SNAP Enrollment: Disentangling Business Cycle Fluctuations and Policy Changes," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(4), pages 153-176, November.
    3. Hoang, Hoa K. & Westhoff, Patrick & Thompson, Wyatt & Madison, Daniel & Whistance, Jarrett, 2022. "Determinants and trajectories of federal expenditures on SNAP: The role of food prices," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322084, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Vogel, Stephen & Miller, Cristina & Ralston, Katherine, 2021. "Impact of USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on Rural and Urban Economies in the Aftermath of the Great Recession," Economic Research Report 327185, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    5. Hodges, Leslie & Toossi, Saied & Todd, Jessica E. & Ryan-Claytor, Cayley, 2024. "The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Background, Trends, and Economic Issues, 2024 Edition," Economic Information Bulletin 341637, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Oliveira, Victor & Frazao, Elizabeth, 2015. "The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues, 2015 Edition," Economic Information Bulletin 197543, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    7. Melvin, Shamar & Smith, Travis A., 2022. "From paper to plastic: How the transition to EBT affected SNAP enrollment," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    8. Simpson, Nicole B., 2013. "Families, Taxes and the Welfare System," IZA Discussion Papers 7369, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Oliveira, Victor & Prell, Mark & Tiehen, Laura & Smallwood, David, 2018. "Design Issues in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Looking Ahead by Looking Back," Economic Research Report 276253, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    10. Gregory Golino & Katherine Ralston & Joanne Guthrie, 2021. "Participation Trends for Full Price Meals in the National School Lunch Program," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(3), pages 1161-1175, September.
    11. Suttles, Shellye A. & Babb, Angela & Knudsen, Daniel, 2022. "Submitted and Denied: Understanding Variation in Case Status Across Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Applications," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322195, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    12. Danielson, Caroline & Klerman, Jacob Alex & Mejia, Marisol Cuellar, 2013. "Does the Economy Explain the Explosion in the SNAP Caseload?," 2013 Annual Meeting, August 4-6, 2013, Washington, D.C. 150558, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural and Food Policy; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Food Security and Poverty;
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