A survey of economists by the University of Chicago business school found overwhelming disapproval of the Trump administration’s Harvest Box proposal, which would give poor people a box of nonperishable food in lieu of food stamp benefits they can use at the grocery store, said the Los Angeles Times. Two-thirds of the 43 economists in the poll said the EBT cards now in use do more for recipients’ well-being than would the direct supply of a selection of foods; only one panelist disagreed, while 13 had no opinion, did not answer, or were uncertain.
“Despite stereotypes of the incompetent poor, there is little reason to believe the government is a more efficient shopper than people,” Yale economist Larry Samuelson said in the survey, according to the Times.
In response to a second question, 56 percent of the economists agreed that allowing food stamp recipients to select their groceries “does more to raise food security and reduce hunger” than the food boxes would.
According to the USDA, the Harvest Box would replace half of food stamp recipients’ benefits, producing huge savings to the government through volume purchasing. The logistics of distributing the boxes would be left to the states. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said, “We’re looking at doing more with less.” He also said he would welcome a pilot project to test the idea.