On October 7, 2016, The New York Times published an article by Sendhil Mullainathan called "Sending Potatoes to Idaho? How the Free Market Can Fight Poverty." When people think of the free market, they usually don't think of the alleviation of poverty. Generally, poverty and hunger are issues left for governmental intervention, but in 2005 a new system of organization arose within food banks across America. Until 2005, Feeding America gave the newest donations to the "food bank that had been waiting for new supplies the longest" (Mullainathan). This sounds fair, but often the supplies were sent to the wrong food banks. So, over time, the organization realized that they could create a "virtual currency" that could be distributed across food banks, and ones with the greatest need could have the most of this "currency" (Mullainathan). This system not only allowed for greater efficiency, but its near textbook replication of an equitable free market creates a system that benefits everyone. Although I never would have guessed that this approach would work, it seems to resolve several issues addressed by the authors of today's readings. First of all, Tracy McMillan mentions - in "Do Poor People Eat Badly Because of Food Deserts or Personal Preference?" - that the journalists play up the divide between a lack of access to food and the individual power everyone has to choose their food. The lines between "right wing (individualistic) and left wing (social) ideology" do not create a nuanced view of the problem, but instead make for "sexier headlines" (McMillan). A system like the one described in the the New York Times article not only addresses systemic issues of access, but also allows the recipients some choices for their meals. In the Julia Guthman article, "Bringing good food to others: investigating the subjects of alternative food practice," she mentions how one of her students noticed that the organization they worked for was "too wedded to localism" (441). An organization too focused on localism can often create a "defensive, xenophobic" community, which can create stagnation within a community (Guthman 436). With Feeding America, the program is often delocalized, which allows for greater variety in each region. Instead of just keeping potato donations within Idaho, these can be sent elsewhere in the country to provide more people with this wholesome food (Mullainathan). There is often inequity in the free market due to the Darwinist ideology that accompanies the concept. However, Feeding America has found a way to make it work. It turns out that using "the market as a tool without embracing an entire ideology" can be beneficial for all involved (Mullainathan). Works Cited Guthman, Julie. "Bringing good food to others: investigating the subjects of alternative food practice."
cultural geographies, 2008. Web. McMillan, Tracie. "Do poor people eat badly because of limited options or personal preference?" Slate, 27 June 2012. Web. Mullainathan, Sendhil. "Sending Potatoes to Idaho? How the Free Market Can Fight Poverty." New York Times, 7 October 2016. Web.
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