Work incentives and the Food Stamp Program

Hilary Hoynes and Diane Schanzenbach

Journal of Public Economics, 2012, vol. 96, issue 1, 151-162

Abstract: Labor supply theory makes strong predictions about how the introduction or expansion of a social welfare program impacts work effort. Although there is a large literature on the work incentive effects of AFDC and the EITC, relatively little is known about the work incentive effects of the Food Stamp Program and none of the existing literature is based on quasi-experimental methods. We use the cross-county introduction of the program in the 1960s and 1970s to estimate the impact of the program on the extensive and intensive margins of labor supply, earnings, and family cash income. Consistent with theory, we find reductions in employment and hours worked when food stamps are introduced. The reductions are concentrated among families headed by single woman.

Keywords: Welfare policy; Labor supply (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H31 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (83)

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Working Paper: Work Incentives and the Food Stamp Program (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:96:y:2012:i:1:p:151-162

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2011.08.006

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