Abstract
Food insecurity is the leading indicator of well-being for vulnerable children in the United States due to the magnitude of the problem (9.3 million in 2021) and the associated numerous negative health and other consequences. Given the magnitude of food insecurity and its health consequences, food insecurity is a leading contributor to health disparities in the U.S. today. It follows, then, that if we want to reduce health disparities in the U.S. a necessary condition is to reduce food insecurity. The primary tool used to reduce food insecurity is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program). In this paper, I provide an overview of food insecurity in the U.S., a description of SNAP and its role in alleviating food insecurity, and conclude with some suggestions for SNAP to become even more successful at alleviating food insecurity.
Key Take Away Points
Food insecurity is a serious problem in the United States.
Food insecurity is closely tied to health disparities.
SNAP is the leading program to alleviate food insecurity and it suceeds in this role.
By expanding eligibility for SNAP, food insecurity and, hence, health disparities can be further reduced.
Author Biography
Craig Gundersen is the Snee Family Endowed Chair at the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty (BCHP) and a Professor in the Department of Economics at Baylor University. He is also the lead researcher on Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap project, a Round Table Fellow of the Farm Foundation, and a Faculty Affiliate of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame. His research concentrates on the causes and consequences of food insecurity and on the evaluation of food assistance programs, with an emphasis on SNAP. Gundersen is a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economic Association (AAEA).
Recommended Citation
Gundersen, Craig
(2023)
"How SNAP Reduces Health Disparities in the United States,"
Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 14:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58464/2155-5834.1513
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/vol14/iss2/1
