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The Downs and Ups of the SNAP Caseload: What Matters?
Author(s) -
DickertConlin Stacy,
Fitzpatrick Katie,
Stacy Brian,
Tiehen Laura
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
applied economic perspectives and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.4
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2040-5804
pISSN - 2040-5790
DOI - 10.1002/aepp.13076
Subject(s) - supplemental nutrition assistance program , snap , flexibility (engineering) , state (computer science) , administration (probate law) , demographic economics , business , economics , political science , geography , agriculture , computer graphics (images) , management , archaeology , algorithm , computer science , food security , law , food insecurity
Beginning in the 1990s, states have received unprecedented flexibility to determine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and program administration. We find state SNAP policies accounted for nearly half of the 2000–2016 caseload increase. State economic conditions also play an important role in caseload changes, accounting for almost half of the 2007 through 2013 increase. Within distinct periods of our 1990–2016 data, policy and the economy make different contributions to caseload changes. Policy simulations indicate that mandating states to maintain their 2000 SNAP policies, prior to the greatest expansion in latitude, would have lowered 2000–2016 caseload growth by 38%.