Abstract
Since 1970, annual federal outlays for the food stamp program have increased tenfold from $600 million to the nearly $6 billion currently received by over 18 million recipients. Because eligibility is conditioned only on household income and assets, the program supplements the low wages of the working poor as well as public assistance payments. Food producers and distributors are also enriched. This article provides analysis of the political evolution of food stamps from a device to absorb Depression-era food surpluses into a primarily welfare-oriented program. The quantitative importance of various factors that have contributed to rapid program growth during the seventies is also assessed. The article demonstrates that Congress gradually modified the program to enhance its income supplementation role. The concluding section discusses the likely impact on the food stamp program of the Carter administration reform proposals.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
