Effect of Food Stamp Effect of Food Stamp Program on Nutrient Program on Nutrient

IntakeIntake

Xiaowen LiuXiaowen Liu

Department of Department of Agricultural EconomicsAgricultural Economics

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction MethodologyMethodology DataData ResultResult ConclusionConclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

Food Stamp Program (FSP)Food Stamp Program (FSP)

1.1. History: 1939-now History: 1939-now 2.2. Objectives of FSP: Objectives of FSP:

to to help low-income households obtain help low-income households obtain adequate and nutritious diets by adequate and nutritious diets by providing electronic debit cards that providing electronic debit cards that can be redeemed for food with few can be redeemed for food with few restrictionsrestrictions

Name changeName change

Is it helpful?Is it helpful?

Food IntakeFood Intake

Increase in meats, added sugars, and Increase in meats, added sugars, and total fats;total fats;

Increase in total food expenditureIncrease in total food expenditure.. Nutrient IntakeNutrient Intake FSP effects on nutrient intake are FSP effects on nutrient intake are negligible;negligible;

Negative effect;Negative effect;

Positive but non-significant effect.Positive but non-significant effect.

ObjectivesObjectives Identify the factors that determine Identify the factors that determine participation by eligible individuals participation by eligible individuals in the FSPin the FSP

Determine the effectiveness of the Determine the effectiveness of the FSP in increasing nutritional intake FSP in increasing nutritional intake of its participantsof its participants

Determine the effects of socio-Determine the effects of socio-demographic factors on nutrient demographic factors on nutrient intakes by SNAP eligible individuals.intakes by SNAP eligible individuals.

MethodologyMethodology

Simple RegressionSimple Regression

FSP =0 (participants)FSP =0 (participants)

=1 (non-=1 (non-participants)participants)

Nutrient=Nutrient=

ExogenousExogenous

0 1 1 2 2 ... nX X FSPβ β β β++++

Treatment Effect Model (d=FSP)Treatment Effect Model (d=FSP)

1 if 0

0 if 0t t t

t t

d z u

z u

′= α + >′= α + ≤

1 if 0

0 if 0t t t

t t

d z u

z u

′= α + >′= α + ≤

log t t t ty x d v= β+γ +log t t t ty x d v= β+γ +log t t t ty x d v= β+γ +

log t t t ty x d v= β+γ +

Switching Regression ModelSwitching Regression Model

System RegressionSystem Regression Statistical efficiencyStatistical efficiency

1

2

log , if 0

, if 0it t i it t t

t i it t t

y x u z

x v z

β γ ε

β γ ε

¢¢=++£

¢¢=++>

Program Treatment EffectProgram Treatment Effect

Participants Participants Non-participants Non-participants

(1) (1) 2 (0) (0) 2exp( (ó ) / 2) exp( (ó ) / 2)t i i t i iATE x xβ β¢¢=+-+

DataData

National Health and Nutrition National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006

Eligibility Define (<=130 poverty Eligibility Define (<=130 poverty level)level)

Five nutrients: Five nutrients: Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and IronProtein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron

Explanatory Variables:Explanatory Variables: Income, race, age, marital statusIncome, race, age, marital status

Worry running out of food, self-access health Worry running out of food, self-access health etc.etc.

ResultsResults

Program ParticipationProgram Participation1.1. Income (+), Income (+), country of origin (-)country of origin (-), , marital status marital status

(-)(-), being African-American (+), presence of , being African-American (+), presence of children (+), being a female (+), household children (+), being a female (+), household ownership (+), and household size (-), etc.ownership (+), and household size (-), etc.

2.2. Self-access health is good (-).Self-access health is good (-).

Nutrient IntakeNutrient Intake Income (+), country of origin (+), college Income (+), country of origin (+), college

education (+), education (+), presence of children (-),presence of children (-), smoke (-), smoke (-), age (-), dietary supplement (+), etc. age (-), dietary supplement (+), etc.

Average Treatment EffectAverage Treatment Effect

Male Female Male Female Pooled Pooled

Protein 488.413*** 245.762*** Protein 488.413*** 245.762*** 355.318***355.318***

Vitamin C -33.549 3.673 -Vitamin C -33.549 3.673 -13.13213.132

Vitamin A 854.137*** 482.212*** 650.134***Vitamin A 854.137*** 482.212*** 650.134***

Calcium 155.228*** 79.218*** Calcium 155.228*** 79.218*** 113.536***113.536***

Iron 195.669* 68.511* Iron 195.669* 68.511* 125.922*125.922*

ConclusionConclusion

Food Stamp Program has been Food Stamp Program has been improved in several ways:improved in several ways:

1.1. Use of EBT cardUse of EBT card

2.2. Nutrition EducationNutrition Education

Data ImprovementData Improvement1.1. Previous: dietary recallPrevious: dietary recall

Now: blood and urine Now: blood and urine examinationexamination

ConclusionConclusion

Nutrition educationNutrition education Policy change on food Policy change on food restrictionrestriction

for example: EBT card can be used to buy for example: EBT card can be used to buy dietary supplement.dietary supplement.

Data collection methodsData collection methods more psychological questions (stigma)more psychological questions (stigma)

for example: will you feel uncomfortable for example: will you feel uncomfortable using EBT card when checking out?using EBT card when checking out?