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. 2021 Mar;43(1):132-152.
doi: 10.1002/aepp.13099. Epub 2020 Nov 16.

Food Hardship during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Great Recession

James P Ziliak

Food Hardship during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Great Recession

James P Ziliak. Appl Econ Perspect Policy. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

I compare the extent of food hardships in the United States among adults and seniors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food insufficiency increased threefold compared to 2019, and more than doubled relative to the Great Recession. Food insufficiency among seniors increased 75% during the COVID period, but more than doubled when including reduced intake of food varieties. Receipt of charitable foods among disadvantaged adults spiked 50% in the COVID period, but the initial response among seniors was a sharp reduction, before rising. These patterns are consistent with strong social distancing measures enacted in response to the pandemic.

Keywords: Aging; Charitable food assistance; Food insecurity; Food insufficiency; I1; I3.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trends in Food Insufficiency.Source: Author's calculations of 2001–2019 December Current Population Survey and Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 11 of the Census Household Pulse Survey. Results weighted using person weights.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends in Food Insufficiency by Race.Source: Author's calculations of 2001–2019 December Current Population Survey and Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 11 of the Census Household Pulse Survey. Results weighted using person weights.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trends in Receipt of Charitable Food.Source: Author's calculations of 2002–2019 December Current Population Survey and Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 11 of the Census Household Pulse Survey. Results weighted using person weights.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Marginal Effects of Time Dummies from Food Insufficiency Regression Models.Source: Author's calculations of 2001–2019 December Current Population Survey and Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 11 of the Census Household Pulse Survey. Coefficients are marginal effects from weighted probit regression model of food insufficiency.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Marginal Effects of Time Dummies from Charitable Food Regression Models.Source: Author's calculations of 2002–2019 December Current Population Survey and Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 11 of the Census Household Pulse Survey. Coefficients are marginal effects from weighted probit regression model of charitable food receipt.
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References

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