By Amy Tingle
WIC is one of the most expansive food assistance programs in the United States. Despite extensive research demonstrating the health benefits of participation, there is a sizable gap between those that are eligible and those that enroll. This paper studies how economic conditions and program characteristics affect both eligibility and coverage rates using post recession data from 2010–2013. The results show that the average monthly food benefit is positively correlated with take–up. They also indicate that the unemployment rate is correlated with eligibility but not take–up, meaning that in times of economic downturn, people enroll at the same rate as before.
Advisor: V. Joseph Hotz | JEL Codes: D04, D60 | Tagged: Participation in Federal Assistance, WIC Program
