THE EFFECT OF AN ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (EBT) SYSTEM ON FOOD EXPENDITURE OF FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS: EVIDENCE FROM THE MARYLAND STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION

Survey data before and after the statewide implementation of an Electronic Benefit Transfer system in Maryland is used to estimate the impact of this system on net food expenditure out of Food Stamp Program (FSP) benefits and income. A reduction in the net food expenditure from FSP benefits relative to income reduces the FSP's ability to target food expenditure.