Effect of Food Stamp Effect of Food Stamp Program on Nutrient Program on Nutrient Intake Intake Xiaowen Liu Xiaowen Liu Department of Department of Agricultural Economics Agricultural Economics
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?