RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fighting Crime in the Cradle: The Effects of Early Childhood Access to Nutritional Assistance
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0619-10276R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.58.3.0619-10276R2
A1 Andrew Barr
A1 Alexander A. Smith
YR 2021
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2021/04/05/jhr.58.3.0619-10276R2.abstract
AB Using variation in the rollout of the Food Stamp Program (FSP), combined with criminal conviction data from North Carolina, we find that FSP availability in early childhood leads to large reductions in later criminal behavior. Each additional year of FSP availability in early childhood reduces the likelihood of a criminal conviction in young adulthood by 2.5 percent, with stronger effects for violent and felony convictions. These effects are substantially larger for non-whites, consistent with their higher levels of FSP participation. The discounted social benefits from the FSP’s later crime reduction exceed the costs of the program over this time period.