Behavioral Food Subsidies

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2025
Volume: 107
Issue: 3
Pages: 639-652

Authors (3)

Andy Brownback (University of Arkansas) Alex Imas (not in RePEc) Michael A. Kuhn (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We conduct a field experiment with low-income shoppers to study how behavioral interventions can improve the effectiveness of healthy food subsidies. Our unique design enables us to deliver subsidies both before and during grocery shopping. We examine the effects of two nonrestrictive changes to the choice environment: giving shoppers agency over the subsidy they receive and introducing a waiting period before a subsidized shopping trip to prompt deliberation about upcoming purchases. These interventions increase healthy food spending by 61% more than a healthy food subsidy alone, resulting in 199% greater healthy spending than in our unsubsidized control group.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:107:y:2025:i:3:p:639-652
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25