Comparing the Emergency Food Assistance Program and The Food Stamp Program: Recipient Characteristics, Market Effects, and Benefit/Cost Ratios

J. William Levedahl, Nicole Ballenger and Courtney Harold
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Courtney Harold Van Houtven ()

No 308290, Agricultural Economic Reports from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a commodity-based program, and the coupon-based Food Stamp Program can, for a given level of expenditure, serve more needy households than either program can serve alone. TEFAP distributes Government surpluses and purchased commodities to needy households. Although TEFAP expenditures ($300 million per year since 1989) are small compared with those of the Food Stamp Program ($23.6 billion in FY1993), a commodity-based program such as TEFAP can complement food stamps by distributing food to households unwilling to apply for food stamps because of complicated application procedures and the stigma attached to food stamps. TEFAP can also increase awareness of eligibility for food stamps and other Federal assistance. This report compares the programs’ recipients, effects on food and nonfood markets, and benefit/cost ratios.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Demand and Price Analysis; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Food Security and Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21
Date: 1994-06
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uerser:308290

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.308290

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