The Effect of SNAP on the Composition of Purchased Foods: Evidence and Implications
Justine Hastings, Ryan Kessler, Jesse M. Shapiro
Abstract
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)
Topics & Concepts
Closing (real estate)SnapSupplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramConsumption (sociology)Composition (language)Panel dataFood scienceBusinessEconomicsDemographic economicsAgricultural economicsFood insecurityEconometricsGeographyBiologyFood securityArchaeologyComputer graphics (images)PhilosophySocial scienceFinanceComputer scienceAgricultureLinguisticsSociologyFood Security and Health in Diverse PopulationsObesity, Physical Activity, DietGender, Labor, and Family Dynamics