AGING OUT OF WOMEN INFANTS AND CHILDREN: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPENSATION EFFECT OF PRIVATE NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. (11th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Si, Xia; Leonard, Tammy
• Is Part Of: Economic inquiry. Volume 58:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 446
• Page End: 461
• Publication Date: 2019-09-11
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; 330.05
• DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12842
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2583

Abstract

Abstract : This paper is the first to address the causal relationship between an abrupt change in the availability of public nutrition assistance and low‐income households' private nutrition assistance utilization. In particular, we examined the way in which loss of Women Infants and Children (WIC) benefits impacted a household's utilization of private food assistance. Using a regression discontinuity analysis framework, we found that households significantly increased utilization of private nutrition assistance following an abrupt loss in public nutrition assistance. Estimates indicated that some households might have been able to compensate from about half to more than 90% of their loss in public WIC nutrition assistance. ( JEL I38, C36, D12)