US Agricultural and Food Policies:
                    Economic Choices and Consequences
                 Chapter 7 – Analyzing Effects of USDA Nutrition 
                Programs on Hunger and Food Security in the US
    Chapter Seven Objectives
    • In this chapter, we study the US Food Safety-Net’s 
       microeconomic household effects and macroeconomic 
       national impacts
    • We organize key topics, as follows:
        • We review federal nutrition assistance programs.
        • We formalize definitions: What are Hunger and Food 
          Insecurity?
        • We assess the effects of US Nutrition Programs on 
          Food Insecurity and Hunger.
                                                                  2
                      US Agricultural and Food Policies:
                    Economic Choices and Consequences
                 Chapter 7 – Analyzing Effects of USDA Nutrition 
                Programs on Hunger and Food Security in the US
    Chapter Seven Objectives (Continued)
      • We utilize an Economic Choice Model to analyze the 
       household-level effects of In-Kind Transfer Programs 
       such as SNAP.
      • We interpret evidence of how US Nutrition Programs 
       affect Food Insecurity.
      • We investigate a nutritional policy paradox: Why do we 
       have the dual problems of obesity and food insecurity?
                                                                  3
                      US Agricultural and Food Policies:
                    Economic Choices and Consequences
                 Chapter 7 – Analyzing Effects of USDA Nutrition 
                Programs on Hunger and Food Security in the US
    Chapter Seven Objectives (Continued)
    • We review the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan.
        • What is it, and why is it important? 
        • What are the roles of the additional USDA Food 
         Plans?
    • We examine the USDA’s Food Pyramid, the MyPlate 
      and MyWins Communication Plans.
    • We summarize conclusions, and anticipate likely future 
      policy choices.
                                                                   4
                      US Agricultural and Food Policies:
                    Economic Choices and Consequences
                 Chapter 7 – Analyzing Effects of USDA Nutrition 
                Programs on Hunger and Food Security in the US
   US Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs
   • Seventy (70) US federal programs are linked to food and 
     nutrition policy. We focus on a select number or programs 
     that directly relate to government-supported food assistance. 
   • USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) manages the 
     majority of national food programs. 
   • The US Health and Human Services (HHS) Department 
     oversees the Administration on Aging (AOA). The AOA 
     manages food programs for the elderly under the authority of 
     the 1965 Older Americans Act.
                                                                  5
                       US Agricultural and Food Policies:
                     Economic Choices and Consequences
                  Chapter 7 – Analyzing Effects of USDA Nutrition 
                  Programs on Hunger and Food Security in the US
   When and why did the US Government become involved in food 
   and nutrition policy? 
   • Before US 1930’s Great Depression: Private organizations 
     (churches, volunteers, etc.) “fed the hungry”. 
   • Charitable private efforts continue today; Volunteer food 
                                                        st
     distribution organizations are important in the 21  Century.
   • 1930’s Farm Economy: Huge commodity surpluses, low farm-
     product prices, frequent farm foreclosures & the Dust Bowl. 
   • 1933: US unemployment rate = 24.75%; large #’s of US 
     households were impoverished and hungry. Private efforts could 
     not “scale-up” to meet the massive crisis of hunger and poverty.
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