Diane Schanzenbach Profile picture
Director @IPRatNU, nonres Sr Fellow @BrookingsEcon, Social Policy Prof @nu_sesp, board member @FoodDepository & @fractweets. Economist. Midwesterner.
Jan 6, 2021 6 tweets 2 min read
New Household Pulse covering Dec 9 -21 just released, underscores how desperately relief is needed.

Estimated #foodinsecurity at a pandemic high: 24% overall; 31% among those w/kids. Image Share reporting sometimes/often not enough to eat last week continued its climb.

18.3% of those w/kids said they didn't have enough to eat.

Really looking forward to seeing these numbers come back down as relief gets into hands of families. Image
Nov 2, 2020 10 tweets 2 min read
New working paper out today w ⁦@MichaelRStrain⁩. I’ll let him write something pithy, I’ll stick to brand and do a nerdy thread. nber.org/papers/w28041 The EITC is the largest anti-poverty program. By increasing $ to work, it draws workers into employment, and tops up low levels of earnings.

It’s been through a handful of expansions in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and a smaller one in 2009.

Tons of evidence on impacts.
Sep 10, 2020 9 tweets 3 min read
Here's what we've learned so far about the spike in nonresponse in the Census Household Pulse Survey.

Of course, I'm focused on the Q on food sufficiency, but it would be straightforward to extend this to other sections. New questionnaire is much longer. Like 20 min vs. old 12 min. People drop off as the survey goes on. Here's what nonresponse %'s are, by section, in week 12 vs. week 13. Image
Jul 8, 2020 8 tweets 3 min read
Week 9 of the @uscensusbureau’s Household Pulse data released today! Continued thanks for their tireless work.

#FoodInsecurity top line #’s are back up this week. Estimates still below their peaks, but this week wiped out all the statistical progress made over past weeks. Remember: Household Pulse asks a/b food SUFFICIENCY, incl. do we have enough food but not types we want, or sometimes/often not enough food. Asks a/b last 7 days.

44% report they are food insufficient; 52% among those w/kids.