Why stricter SNAP and Medicaid requirements don't work

March 4, 2025

Research shows that stricter SNAP and Medicaid requirements don't work

Proponents of stricter work requirements for programs like SNAP and Medicaid argue that they incentivize employment, but most safety net recipients are already working or face legitimate barriers to employment.

Farah Khan highlights recent economic research that shows work requirements do little to increase labor market participation, and proposes policies that focus on removing barriers to employment instead, such as job training programs, affordable child care, transportation assistance, and a livable minimum wage.

More research and commentary

U.S.-China engagement in Africa. "While Africa could benefit from the geopolitical competition between U.S. and China, it will require African countries to be particularly diligent and vigilant over the calculus, risks, and potential retaliations in the event that one of the great powers adopts a punitive approach toward African countries viewed to be working with the other side," Yun Sun writes in a new Foresight Africa viewpoint.

Health and AI. Artificial intelligence has begun to revolutionize healthcare, but it also poses risks, such as algorithmic bias and data privacy concerns. Nicol Turner Lee and co-authors outline a working group report on applying deliberate and ethical approaches to AI to ensure that new technologies benefit all communities, especially those that are underserved.

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