MEASURING THE IMPACT OF REGIONAL PRICE DISPARITIES ON FOOD INSECURITY RISK
Authors
Marks, Jennifer W.
Subjects
food insecurity
compensation
welfare
readiness
recruiting
Basic Needs Allowance
BNA
Federal Poverty Level
FPL
compensation
welfare
readiness
recruiting
Basic Needs Allowance
BNA
Federal Poverty Level
FPL
Advisors
Hartmann, Latika
Heissel, Jennifer A.
Date of Issue
2023-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis analyzes the risk of food insecurity among active-duty servicemembers and evaluates current policies intended to reduce the high rate of food insecurity reported among servicemembers and their families. The newly implemented Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) provides economic assistance to active-duty families with household income below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), but I find that less than one percent of the Department of Defense population is eligible for assistance rendering the allowance ineffective in reducing the rate of food insecurity among servicemembers. Among comparable civilian households, there is no abrupt decline in food insecurity rates at 150 percent of the FPL. Furthermore, the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity is 16 percentage points higher in high-cost areas compared to low-cost areas, indicating a relationship between purchasing power and the rate of food insecurity. Based on this analysis, servicemembers with income below 200 percent of the FPL are sensitive to regional price differences, putting junior servicemembers in high-cost areas at an increased risk for food insecurity.
Type
Thesis
Description
Student Thesis (NPS NRP Project Related)
Series/Report No
Manpower Systems Analysis Theses
NPS Outstanding Theses and Dissertations
Department
Department of Defense Management (DDM)
Organization
Naval Research Program (NRP)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
NPS Naval Research Program
This project was funded in part by the NPS Naval Research Program.
This project was funded in part by the NPS Naval Research Program.
Funder
This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrp
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.