Effects of Economic Insecurity and the Great Recession on the Quality of Food Purchases in American Families

• In Event: 107 - ASA-NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Research Session. Issues in Economic Sociology: Perspectives on the United States

Abstract

Diet is clearly linked to health outcomes, and both macroeconomic factors and individual-level economic uncertainty are linked to patterns of food consumption. Some researchers have found that a stronger economy and higher family income are associated with healthier eating patterns. Others have found that time in food preparation rises during periods of unemployment or recessions, suggesting families may substitute (potentially healthier) home cooking for restaurant food under periods of economic uncertainty. Yet, economic hardship may also lead to hunger, which could negatively impact health. In this paper, I use data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey to examine whether, during periods of economic insecurity, such as during the Great Recession or during unemployment, families substitute home cooking for restaurant meals and/or substitute fast food for food from full-service restaurants. I also examine whether the quality of groceries purchased declines in times of economic uncertainty. Finally, I consider the potential for diet improvement resulting from receipt of SNAP benefits or food pantry assistance.

Author

• Margaret Michele Gough, Harvard University