The Impact of Electronic Benefit Transfer on Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Pei Zhou, Yuqing Zheng, Harry M. Kaiser, Miguel I. Gómez, Lingxiao Wang and Diansheng Dong

Agricultural Economics, 2026, vol. 57, issue 2

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of the implementation of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation using Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data from 1992 to 2007. The findings indicate a significant increase (1.6% for our benchmark model) in SNAP participation post‐EBT implementation, but smaller in magnitude compared with previous studies. The results also show significant differences in impacts across different demographic and socioeconomic groups. The event study results suggest that these effects may not be instantaneous, and show pronounced and sustainable impacts approximately 2 years after statewide EBT implementation. Understanding these nuanced impacts is crucial for policymakers to better tailor outreach and implementation efforts across different populations.

Date: 2026
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