Journal of Political Economy Vol. 130 No. 8 2022
The Allocation of Food to Food Banks
Abstract
Feeding America allocates donated food to over 200 food banks. In 2005, it transitioned from a queueing mechanism to one where food banks use a specialized currency to bid for food. Food banks chose very different food than they received before. Small food banks acquired 72% more pounds per client than large food banks at little nutritional cost. This reallocation of food is estimated to have increased its value by 21%, or $115 million per annum. Food banks also sourced food much closer, saving an additional $16 million per annum. Finally, donations of food rose by over 100 million pounds.
- DOI
- 10.1086/720332
- Volume
- 130
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1993-2017
- Language
- en
- Sources
- openalex crossref bibtex:phds-export.bib