Racial disparity in SNAP? No: a geospatial study for Iowa

Sugam Sharma

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2014, vol. 9, issue 3, 340-352

Abstract: To assist the low or no-income population, USDA governs an aid programme, called SNAP. As the spatial granularity changes from national to state, the SNAP distribution responsibilities delegate to states. The federal poverty level (185% or less) and 50% or more low income populous at a tract level defines the target households for SNAP. Lately, there is a widespread stereotype that SNAP (food stamp) eligibility has racial disparity. A remark from a US republican presidential candidate on February 25th, 2012 also links the food stamp to racial disparity. This work is intended to examine the hypothesis that in the USA SNAP has racial disparity. Iowa is employed as the region of study and the census tracts data is considered as finest spatial granularity as income data for individual participant is unavailable. GIS technology helps in differentiating SNAP eligible tracts from unqualified ones and displays the racial/ethnic diversity.

Keywords: census tracts data; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; SNAP; racial disparity; tract; Iowa; geographic information systems; GIS; USA; United States; race; low income populations; no income populations; brand consumption behaviour; USDA; United States Department of Agriculture; state delegation; federal poverty level; target households; food stamps; eligibility; spatial granularity; racial diversity; ethic diversity; geospatial studies; government aid; government support. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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