Inefficiency of Transfers-in-Kind in a Multiple Program Setting

摘要

The paper analyzes the effects of multiple transfer programs on recipients. The author finds that (1) the elimination of the food stamp purchase requirement has effectively 'cashed out' the program; (2) poverty is cut by 70% among multiple program participant; (3) medicaid and housing subsidies do stimulate consumption of those goods more than cash transfers would; and (4) in-kind transfers are almost half again as costly as the cash transfers that recipients would value equally.