Analysis of the Impact of Food Stamp Redemptions on Food Stores and Regions, Fiscal Year 1978

摘要

Among stores accepting food stamps in fiscal year 1978, large chain stores were concentrated in higher income, white collar neighborhoods and suburban areas, where most households had access to a car. Smaller stores, particularly independent grocers, predominated in lower income and especially black neighborhoods. Such socioeconomic differences explained about 27 percent of the variation among store trading areas in the proportion of food stamp redemptions to total food sales. Regional shares of all food stores accepting food stamps, their food sales, and level of food stamp redemptions differed significantly in both 1976 and 1978. Changes that occurred between the two years, however, were not significant.