Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/236304 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 14273
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Nutritious eating habits contribute to a stronger immune system necessary for prevention and easier recovery from illnesses. A job loss, experienced by millions of Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to negatively affect food security of families. This research explores the effect of a recent job loss during the Covid-19 crisis on food sufficiency. The findings suggest that a job loss in the family is associated with greater food insecurity, reduced likelihood that a family has a sufficient amount of food, and deteriorated child nutrition. There is also a differential effect between currently employed and unemployed job losers, with the latter group being more adversely affected. The negative effect is primarily driven by Hispanic and low-educated individuals. These results have policy implications in the context of identifying vulnerable groups that are most likely to benefit from programs designed to provide sufficient nutrition to the population.
Subjects: 
food security
nutrition
job loss
COVID-19
JEL: 
J63
J60
I19
D12
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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