Doubled SNAP Dollars and Nudges: An Analysis of Two Pilot Programs Aimed at Increasing the Purchase of Healthy Foods

Abstract

What people choose to eat is a public policy and health concern. Fresh produce and similarly healthy foods are often less preferred to unhealthy foods. Unhealthy foods can at times be cheaper and more accessible than healthy foods, making it difficult for consumers to avoid temptation at grocery or convenience stores. This dissertation is an analysis of two different pilot programs which aim to increase the purchase of healthy foods, specifically produce. The first pilot program is a financial incentive known as "Double Up Food Bucks". The program is targeted towards SNAP participants, encouraging them to purchase more fresh produce by effectively doubling purchasing power. The second pilot program is a set of three behavioral nudges designed to increase the purchase of bananas in a convenience store environment. The impact of each pilot program was measured using a pre- and post-experiment difference-in-differences design. The results of both pilots are modest and support a growing body of evidence that traditional interventions, like financial incentives, and behavioral interventions, like nudges, can successfully increase healthy food purchases at the margin.