Published February 10, 2026
Q. Why is ending hunger in America important to you?
A. We’re a nation with enough resources to feed everyone. Hunger has been our choice, and I think it’s the wrong choice for both moral and economic reasons. Hunger among children is particularly cruel, since there’s nothing they can do about the circumstances into which they were born. As a society, we can choose to give every child a healthy start in life.
Q. What role do you see the government playing in the fight to end hunger?
A. Local programs and charity will never be enough to stop hunger. We can’t depend on private donors to root out hunger in every corner of the United States; their giving is uneven and often focused on the toughest times of the year. We need nationwide programs that ensure access to food all year round. The only way to stop hunger is in coordination with the federal government, so everyone who needs help can get it.
Q. How does this intersect with your work in economics?
A. Hunger makes it harder to live a productive and fulfilling life, which is also what we need for the economy to grow. Kids who grow up hungry do worse in school, face barriers in their careers, and struggle to get the most out of their talents. By allowing hunger among children, we’re losing part of our nation’s economic potential. We’re making the economic pie smaller for everyone. Fixing this is government’s job – to do what private individuals can’t or won’t, so our nation as a whole can reap the benefits. A well fed population is a public good just like the military or the interstate highway system. It’s a big investment that’s in everyone’s interest.
Q. What do you think are the challenges and opportunities in addressing hunger in America, and what role do you see FRAC playing in those?
A. I think there’s a growing tendency to believe that local programs and charity can solve hunger alone, and that the federal government has no role to play. Recently we’ve seen politicians cut SNAP benefits, in part based on this belief. We need FRAC to point out their blind spots. FRAC can show how important the federal government is as both a funder and coordinator of anti-hunger programs.
Q. What inspires you to support FRAC?
A. FRAC is the only organization I know that is 100% focused on ending hunger via nationwide policies. It’s nonpartisan and has a strictly evidence-based agenda. To me, FRAC is taking the right approach to promote the right solution.