Divergent Trends in State-level SNAP Participation: Evidence with Aggregate-level Data

Abstract

This report uses state-level data to analyze trends and determinants of SNAP participation rates from 1989 to 2012. Comparing differences in state-to-national average SNAP participation rates over the business cycle, 20 states were always below the US average with an increasing average differential, while 19 states were always above the US average with an increasing average differential in absolute value. Possible explanatory factors for this divergent pattern are explored, including state-to-national differences in average household median income levels, unemployment rates and monthly SNAP benefits per participant. Lastly, these same factors are examined to determine which affect the probability a state has a SNAP participation rate above the national rate.