Long Run Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net

Hilary Hoynes, Diane Schanzenbach and Douglas Almond

No 18535, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: A growing economics literature establishes a causal link between in utero shocks and health and human capital in adulthood. Most studies rely on extreme negative shocks such as famine and pandemics. We are the first to examine the impact of a positive and policy-driven change in economic resources available in utero and during childhood. In particular, we focus on the introduction of a key element of the U.S. safety net, the Food Stamp Program, which was rolled out across counties in the U.S. between 1961 and 1975. We use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to assemble unique data linking family background and county of residence in early childhood to adult health and economic outcomes. The identification comes from variation across counties and over birth cohorts in exposure to the food stamp program. Our findings indicate that the food stamp program has effects decades after initial exposure. Specifically, access to food stamps in childhood leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of "metabolic syndrome" (obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes) and, for women, an increase in economic self-sufficiency. Overall, our results suggest substantial internal and external benefits of the safety net that have not previously been quantified.

JEL-codes: H53 I14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-dem and nep-hea
Note: CH DAE ED EH LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

Published as Hilary Hoynes & Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach & Douglas Almond, 2016. "Long-Run Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net," American Economic Review, vol 106(4), pages 903-934.

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Journal Article: Long-Run Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net (2016)
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