Long-Run Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hoynes, Hilary; Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore; Almond, Douglas
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research; Northwestern University; Columbia University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20130375
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 903-934
• 关键词: prenatal exposure; economic consequences; adult mortality; fetal origins; in-utero; HEALTH; LIFE; disease; intervention; income

摘要

We examine the impact of a positive and policy-driven change in economic resources available in utero and during childhood. We focus on the introduction of the Food Stamp Program, which was rolled out across counties between 1961 and 1975. We use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to assemble unique data linking family background and county of residence in early childhood to adult health and economic outcomes. Our findings indicate access to food stamps in childhood leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of metabolic syndrome and, for women, an increase in economic self-sufficiency.